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THE 



Story of the 116™ Regiment, 
Pennsylvania Infantry. 



WAR OF SECESSION, 
1862-186^. 



By 

Brevet Major General 

St. Clair A. Mulholland. 




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F. McManus, Jr. & Co. 

PHILADELPHIA. 




BREVET MAJOR-GENERAL ST CLAIR A. MULHOLLAND. 
Colonel ii6lh Pennsylvania Infantry. 



DEDICATION. 



^npO the Members of my Regiment, living and dead, 
these pages are dedicated with very great affection. 
To you, also, my beloved friends and comrades, who 
with me shared the honors, glorious triumphs and vicissi- 
tudes of the greatest war the world has ever seen ; to you 
who have stood with me on many battlefields, rejoicing 
in the hour of victory, sorrowing in the hour of defeat, 
whom the bond of fire has rendered nearer and dearer than 
brothers, whose joys, tears and blood have been mingled 
with my own, to you I offer and dedicate this book, a 
story of brave deeds and brave men, a tribute to your 
heroism and excellence, a chaplet of fadeless laurel, well 
deserved and nobly won, which, with great reverence, I 
lay on the graves of those of my comrades who are gone, 
and gladly place on the brows of those who are still with 
us, happy in the thought that I have been permitted to 
record their splendid valor, in the hope that they may 
live long to read in these pages their own honored names, 
so that when they, too, shall be no more, their children 
may look on it exultantly, and make it their proudest 
boast that " Father was a soldier of the Union". 



PREFACE. 



TT7AR with its pomp and pageantry, glories, honors, 
horrors and bloodshed has, from the beginning of 
time, entered largely into the history of nations. 

In every age, and in every clime, the story of the 
nation's brave has been the principal topic of the historians, 
the most sublime theme of the poet. 

In every century, since the arts became a part of 
civilization, the sculptor and painter have plied the chisel 
and brush to perpetuate in marble and bronze, and depict 
on the less enduring canvas, the deeds of the heroes who, 
in the flame and tempest of battle, have stood, sword in 
hand, to defend the national honor or contend for a 
principle which they believed to be just. 

The record of a warrior is too often but that of a fearless 
man or unscrupulous conqueror, and often, whilst we would 
fain admire the dauntless bravery that made the soldier 
distinguished among his fellows, we are forced to condemn 
the cause for which he fought. But in the case of the 
men who, during the War of Secession, formed the grand 
army that fought for, and preserved us a nation, we can 
both applaud the hero and endorse the motive. 

The soldiers who gathered around our flag, in this great 
war, were not only heroes but patriots and saints as well. 
Theirs was the holiest, noblest, purest and best cause that 



PREFACE. 5 

ever summoned men to arms. Moses and Joshua fought 
to destroy and annihilate, that they might found a nation. 
Our army fought to preserve and secure — even to those 
whom they strived to conquer — the rights and liberties 
that they themselves hoped to enjoy. 

Our soldiers fought to preserve that great legacy — more 
dear and valuable than all else gained by the sword on 
earth — the first real Republic that has ever existed ; to 
demonstrate that human freedom was not a myth and a 
dream, but a splendid reality ; to preserve intact, for all 
man who love liberty, that vast territory over which our 
flag floats, the glorious land that stretches from the storm- 
swept coasts of the Atlantic to the golden shores of the 
Pacific, that reaches from the frozen lands of Alaska to the 
orange groves of sunny Florida — the land that will, in the 
boundless future, shelter in its bosom so many happy 
homes and countless millions of freemen. 

The Army of the Union fought to keep alive that sacred 
torch of human liberty which burns brighter and more 
brilliantly as the years roll on, and which is indeed destined 
to illumine the world and shine with so resplendent a 
glory as to teach all, even the most benighted of nations, 
that men can live in peace, purity and honor without being 
subjects that the laws for the well-being and happiness of 
society can be well and wisely administered by the servants 
of a people who will not tolerate masters. It is the history 
of a gallant regiment, composed of these men, that I 
propose to record. , 

But how many volumes it would take to tell the history 
of a regiment of more than a thousand noble men ! The 
naming of the brave deeds of any one of them would, of 
itself, fill many glowing pages. Space, necessarily limited, 



6 PREFACE. 

will not suffice to allow justice being done to the indi- 
vidual, I can only write of the organization ; of the 
marches, trials, triumphs, and sufferings of the members 
as a body ; record the glories in which all were alike 
participants ; live over again the days of victory, and hear 
again the inspiring cheers of the victors, as they rushed 
over the works of the foe or hurled them back in defeat ; 
of other days, when disaster, rather than victory, was our 
lot, and when, maybe, our lines were forced back, leaving 
the ground strewn with dead and wounded — our well-loved 
companions ; of the midnight march and bivoiiac ; of 
marches in the deadly heat of summer, when men fell by 
the wayside, killed by sunstroke ; of other marches during 
winter, when men died of the extreme cold; of the camp 
and picket line ; of happy days in old Virginia, when 
sunshine and peace would prevail for a time, and cause 
the shadows of soldier life to pass away. 

Then again, in writing this volume, I feel that I am 
but fulfilling a duty to comrades whom I have reason to, 
and do, sincerely love, so that the memory of their noble 
deeds shall not be forgotten, but will live, when they have 
gone to join those whose brave souls went out in the 
storm of battle. 

And this is truly the history of a regiment on whose 
record there is no stain or blemish, a command that never 
turned its back upon the foe, or shrank from any duty, no 
matter how dangerous ; that never failed to defend, in the 
most heroic manner, the position it was placed to hold, or 
charge, with the highest courage and most reckless daring, 
the line of works that it was commanded to take — a com- 
mand, the bones of whose members bleach on thirty battle- 
fields ; a regiment whose colors, shattered, torn and 



PREFACE. 7 

bloodstained were, after three years of arduous service, 
returned to our State with honor. 

I rejoice that I can testify to the excellence of that 
Regiment and to the heroism, devotion and gallantry of 
all its members ; and can here declare that all who touched 
elbows and marched under the flag of the One Hundred 
and Sixteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, are 
worthy of having their names inscribed herein. 

And this story of the organization is intended, not only 
as a memorial to the original members, but to all and 
every one who at any period of the three years, fought 
with the command ; to those who, at a later date, came 
from Allegheny, Fayette and Schuylkill Counties to fill 
the depleted ranks, and who, by their magnificent conduct 
in the Wilderness and Petersburg campaigns, brought so 
much honor and glory to the command, as well as to those 
who were with us from the first, or who fell early, in the 
great struggle. 



Note. — At a meeting of the Survivors of the organization it was 
Resolved, "that no portraits of any members of the Regiment should 
appear in the History except oiBcers killed in battle or who had died 
while in the service, and the portrait of avithor. 



CONTENTS. 



Page 

Map I 

Dedication 3 

Preface 4 

Battles and Skirmishes 12 

Roll of Honor 13 

Chapter 1 23 

Organization of the Regiment. Starts for the Seat of War. 
In Washington. First Night in Camp. Assigned to the Irish 
Brigade. Harper's Ferry. The First Fight. The March to 
Fredericksburg. 

Chapter II. ... 43 

General McClellan takes leave of the Army and is succeeded 
by General Burnside. Arrival at Falmouth. The Battle of 
Fredericksburg. Death of Lieutenants Montgomery and Foltz. 

Chapter III. 78 

After Fredericksburg. Funeral of Lieutenant Montgomery. 
Christmas Day in Camp. The Regiment is Consolidated into 
a Battalion of Four Companies. General Hooker succeeds 
General Burnside in Command of the Army. Corps marks are 
adopted. St. Patrick's Day in Camp. The President visits 
and revdews the Army. " Home Sweet Home". 

Chapter IV / 104 

The Battle of Chancellorsville. The Regiment saves the 
guns of the Fifth Maine Battery. 



Chapter V i 

Chancellorsville. to Gettysburg. General Couch leaves the 
Second Corps, and is succeeded by General Hancock. Com- 
pany B is detailed to Division Headquarters as Provost Guard. 
General Meagher resigns and takes leave of the Brigade. 
Itinerary of the March to Gettysburg. 



20 



CONTENTS. . 9 

Page 

Chapter VI. 131 

Gettysburg — the Battle of the Century. Notes on the Battle. 
Gettysburg to the Rapidan. Death of Lieutenant Bibighaus. 
Orders received to organize six new Companies and raise the 
Battalion to a Regiment. 

Chapter VII. 154 

General G. K. Warren takes Command of the Second Corps. 
Battle of Bristoe Station. Fight at Auburn, or Coffee Hill. 
General Meagher, Colonel Peel and Marshal Prim visit the 
Brigade. Reorganization of the Regiment. 



72 



Chapter VIII. i 

The Wilderness Campaign. General Meade addresses the 
Army. The Regiment Camps on the Battlefield of Chancellors- 
ville. The Battle of May 5th and 6th. 

Chapter IX. 182 

The Battle of Todd's Tavern or Corbin's Bridge. From prayer- 
meeting to battle. A Religious Army. The Battle of the Po. 

Chapter X. 194 

vSpottsylvania, Ma}- 12th. Lieutenant-Colonel Dale holds a 
prayer-meeting in the darkness of early morning. Glorious 
charge of the Regiment — among the very first to cross the 
enemy's works. Capture of a Confederate Battery, several 
stands of colors, and many prisoners. Colonel Dale falls dead 
in the hour of victory. Death of Lieutenant Keil. Battle of 
Spottsylvania Court House, May i8th. Captain Lieb greatly 
distinguishes himself. Battle of North Anna River, May 24th. 
Fight at the Pamunkey River, May 28th. Battle of Totopotomy, 
May 30th and 31st. Lieutenant Yocum distinguishes himself 
on the Picket Line. Colonel Mulholland wounded. 

Chapter XI 222 

Cold Harbor. Severe Losses in the Second Corps. Death of 
Colonel Byrne, commanding Brigade. Losses in the Regiment 
during the month of May. 

Chapter XII. 231 

The Command withdraws from the works at Cold Harljor. 
March over historic ground. Arrival before Petersburg. Battle 
of June i6th. Splendid charge of the Regiment. Death of 
Colonel Kelly, commanding Brigade. Battle of June iSth. 



10 CONTENTS. 

Page 
General Birney takes command of the Second Corps. Battle of 
William's Farm, Jtme 22d. Severe Losses in the Regiment. 
Captain Cosslett, Lieutenant Cope, Sergeant-Major Burke and 
many of the men captured by the enemy. General Mahone 
tells of the fight. The Regiment leaves the Irish Brigade. 

Chapter XIII 250 

First Deep Bottom, or Strawberry Plains, July 27th and 28th. 
Second Deep Bottom, August 14th and 15th. Terrible suffer- 
ing from excessive heat. 

Chapter XIV 257 

Battle of Reams Station. General Barlow leaves the Army 
and is succeeded in command of the Division b}' General 
Nelson A. Miles. Heavy Fighting. Severe loss in the Regi- 
ment. Death of Captains Nowlen and Taggart. Captain 
Crawford and Lieutenant Springer are captured by the enemy. 
Letter of the Confederate General Heth. 

Chapter XV. 274 

Siege of Petersburg. General Hancock's letter. On the 
Picket Reserve. Ghost stories. Colonel MulhoUand returns 
and assumes command of the Brigade. "The Old Canteen." 

Chapter XVI 288- 

Turning movement against Lee's right, October 27th. Cap- 
ture of a Confederate Fort. Death of Captain Henry D. Price. 
Major Teed returns from prison and resigns. A Sunday after- 
noon at Petersburg. Fight at Hatcher's Run, December 9th. 
The last Christmas in the Army. Fight at Hatcher's Run, 
February 5th. The Regiment is authorized to place the names 
of nineteen Battles on the colors. 

Chapter XVII 30s 

Spring time again. Battles of Gravelly Run and Five Forks. 
Death of Lieutenant Brady. Fight at Sutherland Station. 
Color Sergeant Kelly wounded. The Confederate Retreat. 
Ameha Court House. Sailor's Creek. Farmville. Death of 
General Smyth. Appomattox. Officers who were prisoners 
in the South return, and Major Cosslett tells of prison life. 
Return march to Washington. Assassination of the President. 
Lieutenant Tyrrell's story of the arrest of the assassins. The 
Regiment passes through Richmond. The last Review in Wash- 
ington. The Last Muster on Gettysburg field. The Roster. 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 

• Page 

Map I 

President Abraham Lincoln 96 

Governor Andrew G. Curtin 24 

General U. S. Grant ^ 182 

Major-General Philip Sheridan 309 

Major-General George B. McClellan 44 

Major-General George G. Meade 132 

Major-General Ambrose Burnside 56 

Major-General Joseph Hooker 104 

Major-General Edwin V. Sumner 88 

Major-General Winfield S. Hancock 140 

Major-General Darius N. Couch 122 

Major-General G. K. Warren 158 

Major-General Andrew A. Humphreys 298 

Major-General Nelson A. Miles 258 

Major-General David B. Birnev 238 

Major-General Francis A. Barlow 251 

Brigadier-General Thomas Francis Meagher 32 

Brigadier-General Thomas A. Smyth 176 

Lieutenant-Colonel Richard C. Dale 202 

Captain and Brevet Major Garrett Nowlen 264 

Captain and Brevet Major Samuel Taggart 270 

Captain and Brevet Major Henry D. Price 290 

Captain George Halpin 278 

Captain George F. Leppine no 

Lieutenant Robert B. Montgomery 81 

Lieutenant Eugene Brady 304 

Lieutenant Christian Foltz 65 

Lieutenant Robert T. McGuire 72 

Lieutenant William H. Bibighaus 152 

Wilkes Booth, and Irons intended for President Lincoln . 362 

The Wilderness 172 

Chancellorsville, after the Battle 119 

Spottsylvania, one year after the Battle 210 

The Regimental Monument at Gettysburg 366 

Father Corby giving general Absolution on the Battle- 
field AT Gettysburg 373 

Col. and Brevet Major-General St. Clair a. Mulholland 3 



1 1 6th Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry. 



BATTLES AND SKIRMISHES. 

Charlestown, Va October i6 

Snicker's Gap, Va November 12 

Fredericksburg, Va. ... December izand 13 

Chancellorsville, Va May i, 2, 3 and 4 

Gettysburg, Pa July 2 and 3 

Falling Waters, Md July 12 

Auburn, Va October 14 

Bristoe Station, Va October 14 

Mine Run, Va November 28 and 30 

Morton's Ford, Va February 6 

Wilderness, Va May 5 and 6 

Todd's Tavern, Va May 8 

Po River, Va May 10 

Spottsylvania, Va May 12 

Spottsylvania Court House, Va May 18 and 19 

North Anna River, Va May 23 

Pamunkey River, Va May 28 

Totopotomy, Va May 30 and 31 

Cold Harbor, Va June 3 

Assaults on Petersburg, Va June 16, 17 and 18 

William's Farm, Va June 22 

Siege of Petersburg, Va June 19, 1864, until March 28 

Deep Bottom, Va July 26 

Strawberry Plains, Va August 14 to 18 

Reams Station, Va August 25 

Hatcher's Run, Va December 9 

Dabney's Mill, Va February 5 

Gravelly Run and Five Forks, Va March 29 to April i 

Sunderland Station, Va April 2 

Amelia Court House, Va April 6 

vSailor's Creek, Va April 6 

Farmville, Va April 7 

Appomattox, Va April 9 



1862 
1862 
1862 
1863 
1863 
1863 
1863 
1863 
1863 
1864 
1864 
1864 
1864 
1864 
1864 
1864 
1864 
1864 
1864 
1864 
1864 
1865 
1864 
1864 
1864 
1864 
1865 
1S65 
1865 
1S65 
1865 
1865 
T865 



" Their bones are dust, 
Their good swords rust, 
Their souls are with the saints, we trust. 



ROLIv OF HONOR. 

(The dead of the ii6th Pennsylvania Volunteers.) 

Lieutenant Colonel Richard C. Dale, killed at Spottsylvania, 
May 12, 1864. 

Captain and Brevet Major Garrett Nowlen, killed at Reams 
Station, August 25, 1864. 

Captain and Brevet Major Samuel Taggart, killed at Reams 
Station, August 25, 1864. 

Captain and Brevet Major Henry D. Price, killed at Petersburg, 
October 27, 1864. 

Captain George Halpin, died at close of war, of disease contracted 
in Confederate Prison. 

Lieutenant Robert Montgomery, killed at Fredericksburg, Decem- 
ber 13, 1862. 

Lieutenant Christian Foltz, killed at Fredericksburg, Decem- 
ber 13, 1862. 

Lieutenant Eugene Brady, killed at Five Forks, March 31, 1865. 

Lieutenant Patrick Casey, died of gun-shot wound, Sept., 1862. 

Lieutenant William H. Bibighaus, died in Washington, Jime, 1863. 

Lieutenant Henry Keil, killed at Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864. 

Lieutenant Robert T. McGuire, died at close of war, of gun-shot 
wound received at Fredericksburg. 



14 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

COMPANY "a". 

Private John vS. Ai^Temus, died December, 1863, of wouuds received 
at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863. 

Private John Corloy, died in prison (Belle Island), date unknown, 
taken prisoner at Bristoe Station. 

Sergeant Thomas Dougherty, drowned in Acquia Creek, Virginia, 
May I, 1864. 

Private Freeman Dyson, died at Petersburg, October, 1864. 

Private John Goldey, killed at Petersburg, November 2, 1864, wounded 

at Gettysburg. Grave 1295, Poplar Grove Cemetery, Va. 
Private George Turner, killed at Gettysburg. 
Private John Woodward, died in prison (Belle Island), date unknown, 

taken prisoner at Bristoe Station. 

COMPANY " B". 

Private Benjamin Cummings, died September 3, 1864. Buried at 
Cyp Hill Cemetery, L. I. 

Private James Carroll, killed at Petersburg, June 16, 1864. 

Private Carter, . Buried at Winchester, Va, 

Private Edward Fagan, killed at Spottsylvania C. H., May 18, 1864. 

Private John S. Leguin, killed at South Side R. R., April 2, 1865. 

Private James McHugh, died July, 1863. Buried m National Ceme- 
tery, Philadelphia. 

Private Manuel Martin, died July 19, 1863. Buried in National 

Cemetery, Philadelphia. 
Private John Rodgers, killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. 
Private Charles Walting, died April 14, 1865. 

COMPANY "C ". 

Sergeant Francis Malin, killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863. 

Sergeant Franklin B. Missimer, killed at Fredericksburg, Decem- 
ber 13, 1862. 

Sergeant Elhanan W. Price, killed at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862. 

Sergeant Thomas M. Rowland, killed at Fredericksburg, Decem- 
ber 13, 1862. 

Corporal William E. Martin, died December 13, 1862. 

Corporal Samuel J. Willauer, killed at Fredericksburg, Decem- 
ber 13, 1862. 

Private George W. BiddlE, killed at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862. 

Private William Cawler, killed at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862. 



ROLL OF HONOR. 15 

Private Robert A. Fulton, died December 25, 1864, at Annapolis, Md. 
Private William Gallagher, died December 29, 1862, of wounds 

received at Fredericksburg. 
Private Anthony Heffner, killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863. 
Private A. S. Hendricks, died just after the battle of Fredericksburg. 
Private Glenn Harrison, killed at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862. 
Private John Hoop, killed at Deep Bottom, August 14, 1864. 
Private Allen Landis, died October 2, 1864. 

Private Aaron J. Landis, killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. 
Private A. Landenberger, killed at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862. 
Private David E. Major, died near Falmouth, November 17, 1862. 
Private Michael Spencer, killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863. 
Private Daniel Ulrick, killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863. 
Private David Whitmever, died Sept. 27, 1864, at City Point, Va. 

COMPANY " D ". 

Sergeant Andrew E. Ker, killed at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862. 
Sergeant William L. Lott, killed at Reams Station, August 25, 1864. 
Corporal John H. Curry (Color Guard), killed at the Wilderness, 
May 5, 1864. 

Corporal John Hughes, died in prison, October 28, 1864. Captured 
at Reams Station. 

Private John T. Benson, killed at battle of Wilderness, May 5, 1864. 

Private Robert Conway, killed at battle of Wilderness, May 5, 1864. 

Private Matthew Glasgow, died March 27, 1865. 

Private Frederick Hilcar, died on the eve of the battle of the 

■^Vilderness, May 4, 1864. 
Private James Hanna, died November 5, 1864. Captured by the 

enemy at Reams Station. 
Private John Hughes, died October 9, 1864, of wounds received in 

front of Petersburg. 
Private John Huss, died November 11, 1864, in Salisbury Prison. 
Private Jacob Mills, died on the way to Gettysburg. 
Private John Morrissey, killed at Petersburg, June 29, 1864. 
Private John Myers, died in Andersonville Prison, July 22, 1863. 
Private Thomas O'Brian, died February 7, 1865. 
Private John B Ouiglev, died August 29, 1864, of wounds received 

at Petersburg, June 16. 
Private George Rushworth, killed at Chancellorsville. 



16 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

Private Chari^eS Serross, died in Andersonville Prison, Septem- 
ber 30, 1864, of wounds received at William's Farm, June 22, 1864. 
Private Francis Sherin, killed at Gettysburg. 
Private John A. Smith, died July 26, 1864. 
Private Theodore A. Walker, killed at Chancellorsville, May 3, 1863. 

COMPANY " E ". 

Sergeant Henry Kelly, died September, 1862. 

Sergeant John Murrey, died in Andersonville Prison, date unknown. 
Corporal Thomas Sharp, killed at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. 
Corporal Aaron Tomlinson, died at Alexandria, Va., June 18, 1864, 

of wounds received at Cold Harbor, June 3. Grave 2181. 
Corporal Lot Turney, killed at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. 
Corporal Henry Masters, died in Salisbury Prison, Nov. 13, 1864 

Captured at Reams Station. 
Private Richard Barker, killed at Spottsylvania C. H., May 18, 1864. 
Private George a. Dodd, killed at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. 
Private Charles Elfert, killed at the Wilderness, May 6, 1864. 
Private Jacob Yard, died November 25, 1864. 

Private Frederick Lewders, killed at Deep Bottom, August 16, 1864. 
Private Hugh Laycock, died in Andersonville Prison, August 11, 1864. 
Private John Logue, died December 25, 1864. 
Private Thomas Murphy, died September 22, 1864. 
Private Albert Nelson, died in Andersonville Prison, 1864. 
Private David Shannon, killed at Petersburg, June 16, 1864. 
Private Silus Young, wounded and captured in Wilderness, died in 

Salisbury Prison. 
Private Wilson Turpin, killed at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. 
Private John M. Wiley, died in Andersonville Prison, October 10, 1864. 
Priv.\TE Malchoir Zang, killed at Po River, May 10, 1864. 
Private George Adams, killed at Wilderness, May 5, 1864. 

COMPANY " F ". 

Corporal Daniel B. Berkheiser, killed at Reams Station. 
Corporal Chris Dieffenderfer, died in Salisbury (N. C. ) Prison. 
Corporal William Moser, died June 14, 1864, of wounds received at 

Cold Harbor. 
Corporal Adam Wagner, killed at Petersburg, June 14, 1864. 
Private Henry A. Berger, killed at Po River, May 10, 1864. 



ROI.L OF HONOR. 17 

Private John A. Berger, killed at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. 

Private John Baxter, killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. 

Private James Day, died in Salisbury Prison, December 20, 1864. 

Private Joshua Evely, killed at Tolopotomy River, May 31, 1864. 

Private John Freeze, died June 29, 1864 

Private Chari.es T. Houck, killed at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. 

Private John J. Hunker, died April 20, 1864. 

Private Levi Herring, died September 13, 1864. 

Private Louis Heinback, killed at Petersburg, June 16, 1864. 

Private Peramus Hoefman, died October 14, 1864. 

Private Joseph M. Johnston, killed at Po River, May 10, 1864. 

Private Thomas Kramer, died March 13, 1865. 

Private Amos Reppert, died October 27, 1864. 

Private Chari^es K. ReicherT, died June 20, 1864, of wounds received 

at Cold Harbor, June 3. 
Private Joseph B. Reber, died in Salisbury Prison, January 26, 1865. 
Private Nathan Raush, died July 22, 1864, of wounds received at 

Petersburg, June 16, 1864. 
Private Richard Shoener, killed at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. 
Private James White, killed in Wilderness, May 5, 1864. 
Private John Wagner, died January 7, 1865. 

Private John Webber, died in Andersonville Prison, September 7, 1864. 
Private Joseph Wagner, died July 17, 1864, of wounds received at 

Petersburg, June 22, 1864. 
Private Wilwam Wanner, died January 5, 1865. 

COMPANY "g". 

Sergeant John C. Marley, killed at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862. 
CoRPORAi. Abraham Foust, died at Richmond, Va., of wounds received 

at Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864. 
Private Adam Buchner, died in Andersonville Prison, July 27, 1864. 
Private John Barr, died May 25, 1864. 
Private John G. Cook, died November 7, 1862. 
Private Thomas Cooper, killed at William's Farm, June 22, 1864, 
Private Henry Deitzler, died March 28, 1865. 
Private Edward L. Gebbert, died October 16, 1864. 
Private Jacob Hummei^l, died in Andersonville Prison, date unknown. 
Private John Heinbach, died in Andersonville Prison, Oct. 12, 1864 



18 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

Private William Heinbach, died in Anderson ville Prison, date 

unknown. 
Private William Hare, killed at Fredericksburg. December 13, 1862. 
Private George Kramer, killed at Fredericksburg, October 30, 1864. 
Private James Kelly, killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. 
Private John C. Marberger, died September 8, 1864, of wounds 

received at Ream's Station. 
Private Jonathan Mover, died August 12, 1864, of wounds received 

at Cold Harbor. 

Private Frank Puffenberger, killed at Spottsylvania C. H., 

May 18, 1864. 
Private Cyrus Ruck, died in prison August 17, 1864. Grave 4952, 

Poplar Grove Cemetery, Va. 
Private Martin V. Ryan, died July 24, 1864. 
Private Adam Sherman, killed at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. 
Private John Sherman, died June 30, 1864. 

Private Henry H. Trumbo, killed at Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864. 
Private William Tucker, died August 5, 1S64. 
Private Souire H. VannaTTa, died December 25, 1864. 
Private Andrew Wilson, died in Salisbury Prison, February 10, 1865. 
Private Franklin Wanner, died December 25, 1864. 
Private John Walls, died of wounds received at Fredericksburg. 

COMPANY " H ". 

Sergeant Henry W. Case, died August 13, 1864, of wounds received 
at Spottsylvania, May 12. 

Sergeant John Farley, killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. 

First Sergeant John A. Graham, killed at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. 

Sergeant Frederick Shawn, died July 31, 1864, of wounds received 
at Petersburg, June 24. 

Corporal Horace GrEENLEaf, killed at Fredericksburg. 

Corporal George Seip, died in prison at Salisbury, N. C, Novem- 
ber 8, 1864. Captured at Ream's Station. 

Corporal James Slavin, killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. 

Corporal William Wertz, killed at Spottsylvania C. H., May 18, 1864. 

Private John Beilhartz, died in Andersonville Prison, Oct. 14, 1864. 

Private Rudolph BkiTER, died June 23, 1864, of wounds received at 
Cold Harbor. 

Priv.ate John Door, died February 15, 1865. 



ROLL OF HONOR. 19 

Private John S. Freidle, died in Salisbury Prison, December 25, 1864. 
Private Samuel S. Gili^ESPie, killed at Five Forks, May 31, 1865. 
Private John Haughy, died July 25, 1864, of wound received at 

Cold Harbor. 
Private S. Heinbach, died in Andersonville Prison, August 14, 1864. 
Private Cai<vin J. Lefever, died July 4, 1865. 
Private Frank Leonard, died in prison September 10, 1864. 

Grave 4958, Poplar Grove Cemetery, Va. 
Private Charles McCarty, died in Salisbury Prison, January 10, 1865. 
Private Daniel McCarty, killed at Fredericksburg. 
Private C. Stetzler, died November 6, 1864. 
Private Isaac ShulTz, killed near Petersburg, October 8, 1864. 
Private John Swisher, died July 31, 1864, of wounds received at 

Cold Harbor. Buried in National Cemetery, Philadelphia. 
Private Matthias Seifritz, died September 8, 1864, of wounds 

received at Cold Harbor. 

COMPANY " I ", 

Sergeant George Cole, killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. 
Corporal Alexander Downey, died January 6, 1863, of wounds 

received at Fredericksburg. 
Priv.\TE John Allen, died October 22, 1864, of wounds received at 

Cold Harbor. 
Private J. Carter, died March 15, 1864. 

Private Patrick Fleming, killed at Wilderness, Ma}^ 5, 1864. 
Private William Gaw, killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. 
Private Hannibal Hatch, killed at Wilderness, May 5, 1864. 
Private William C. Harvey, died October 14, 1864. 
Private Barthol W. Johnston, killed at Fredericksburg, Decem- 
ber 13, 1862. 
Private John Leech, killed at William's Farm, June 22, 1864. 

Grave 1521, Poplar Grove Cemetery, Va. 
Private Samuel McClune, killed at Fredericksburg. 
Private Samuel Price, died July 11, 1864, of wounds received at 

Cold Harbor. 
Private Edward Shea, died June 3, 1864, of wounds received at 

Wilderness. 
Private William A. SearighT, died July 25, 1864, of wound3 received 

at Spottsylvania. 



20 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

Private Ai^berT J. Van Dien, killed at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862. 
Private Andrew Wai^lace, died in Andersonville Prison, July 12, 1864. 
Private John Winchester, killed at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862. 

COMPANY " K ". 

Sergeant Daniel Root, killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. 
Sergeant Edward Spence, died June 24, 1864, of wounds received at 

Petersburg, June 16. 
Sergeant Warren S. K11.GORE, killed at Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864. 
Corporal Robert J. Brownfield, died June 12, 1864, of wounds 

received at Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864. 
Corporal Joseph Hudson, killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. 
Private C. Burkholder, killed at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. 
Private John Burns, killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. 
Private Henry J. Bell, killed at Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864. 
Private Parks A. Boyd, killed at Wilderness, May 5, 1864. 
Private Daniel C. CrawEord, killed at Spottsylvania C. H., 

May 18, 1864. 
Private Michael ClEMMER, killed at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. 
Private William A. Conn, killed at Spottsylvania C. H., May 18, 1864. 
Private Stephen H. Dean, died in Salisbury Prison, Dec. 3, 1864. 
Private Peter Finegan, killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. 
Private Levi Gilmore, died July 17, 1864, of wounds received at 

Cold Harbor. 
Private Robert Glendinning, died July 17, 1864, of wounds received 

at Spottsj'lvania C. H. 
Private Abraham Hull, died June 23, 1864. 
Private George W. Hayan, killed in Wilderness, May 6, 1864. 
Private John Haus, died in Andersonville Prison, August i, 1864. 
Private John J. Hull, died, date unknown. 
Private Joseph J. Haynan, died March 29, 1864. 
Private Scott Hutchinson, died July, 1864. 
Private William Hall, died, date unknown. 
Private John H. Inks, died June 15, 1864, of wounds received at 

Tolopotomy River. 
Private Joshua Luckey, died April 8, 1864. 
Private Jacob Maust, died March 8, 1864. 

Private Davd J. Rifle, killed at William's Farm, June 22, 1864. 
Private Milton Rathburn, killed at Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864. 



ROLL OF HONOR. 21 

Private Daniei^ Sickei^, died in Andersonville Prison, July 9, 1864, 

of wounds received at Spottsylvania. 
Private James Smith, killed at Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864. 
Private John W. Smith, died June 14, 1864, of wounds received at 

Cold Harbor. 
Private Joseph J. Smith, killed at Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864. 
Private Benjamin Tayi^or, died May 5, 1864. 

Private John TiERNAN, killed in Battle of Wilderness, May 6, 1864. 
Private Thomas Thorndell, killed at Five Forks, Va., March 31, 1865. 
Private Newton Umble, died in Salisbury Prison, October 19, 1S64. 
Private John Williams, died February 9, 1863. 
Private Thomas Wilson, killed at Fredericksburg. 



CHAPTER I. 

JUNE, 1862. 

'T^HE War of Secession had been in progress for over a 
year. Great armies had been reorganized, and great 
battles had been fought. The theatre of operations had 
extended until it embraced a territory more vast than 
ever occupied by any war in the world's history. Tens 
of thousands of armed men were marching and fighting 
on the long battle line that reached from Washington to 
the Mississippi. McClellan, with the army of the Potomac, 
had just fought and won the battle of Fair Oaks. Grant 
had captured Forts Henry and Donaldson, and advancing 
along the Tennessee, had fought and won at Pittsburg 
Landing, and at Shiloh. 

It seemed as though the Civil War between the 
Northern and Southern States must soon end in triumph 
and final victory for the former, but peace was still far 
distant, and many thousands were yet to fall before the 
end came ; and as the days passed it became evident that 
more stupendous efforts must be made by the general 
government if the union of states was to be preserved, so 
in the spring of this year (1862), a call was made for 
more troops. Pennsylvania, the Keystone State, always 
loyal and true, was prompt to respond, and the great 
War Governor, Andrew J. Curtin, whose administration 
extended over the six most eventful years of the Common- 
wealth's history, and whose memory will ever be cherished 
in every home in all the State wherever the name of a 
soldier is honored, quickly began the work of organizing 
new regiments. 



24 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

The One Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania Infantry 
was one of those then authorized. Dennis Heenan, a well- 
known and much respected citizen of Philadelphia, a soldier 
who had many years experience in the National Guard of 
the State, who had risen from the ranks through succes- 
sive grades to that of Lieutenant-Colonel, and who had 
served in that capacity for three months with the Twenty- 
fourth Regiment in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign 
was chosen Colonel. The writer of this was commissioned 
Lieutenant Colonel, and George H. Bardwell, Major. 
Major Bardwell had served in the beginning of the war as 
Captain on the staff of General James S. Negley. He 
came of a long line of soldiers, his forefathers having been 
in every war in which the country was ever engaged, even 
back to the earliest times in the Indian wars, when the 
first of his name arrived in Boston in 1660. 

On the nth of June, headquarters were opened on 
Market Street, above Seventh, and recruiting actively 
begun. A camp was established in a beautiful spot at 
Jones' Woods, about three miles from the city on the 
Lancaster Pike. The first officer of the regiment mustered 
into the service of the United States was Edmund Randall, 
First Lieutenant of Company G, the required number of 
men being secured to entitle the company to an officer of 
that grade, and on the 8th day of July Lieutenant Randall 
was sworn in and took command of the new camp. 

During the three summer months recruiting was slow, 
as many other regiments were organizing at the same time. 
In August the second battle of Bull Run, or Manassas, was 
fought in Virginia, and being a defeat to the Union troops, 
and a disaster to the Union arms that resulted in a menace 
and danger to the National Capitol, more men became an 
urgent necessity, and, without waiting for the completion 
of the organization, the regiment, on September ist, was 
ordered to the front. On that date only about seven 
hundred men had been enrolled and the command started 
for Washington with many of the companies incomplete. 





^ //.f^.^Z^^^i.^ 



FORMING THE REGIMENT. 25 

Camp was broken on the afternoon of September 2d, 
and the regiment, preceded by martial mnsic, marched 
into the city and through the principal streets to the 
Cooper Shop Refreshment Saloon, and after enjoying an 
excellent meal and spending the last honr in Philadelphia 
in the most happy and agreeable manner, marched to the 
depot of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore 
Railroad and embarked for Washington. 

At the depot the crowd that accompanied the command 
through the streets slowly dispersed. Mothers, wives and 
sweethearts lingered on the platform until the very end, 
with the last warm kisses — alas! for many, the very last 
on earth — still burning on their lips, and saw through 
their fast-falling tears the train move slowly away with the 
loved ones, many of whom would never return. 

The train arrived in Baltimore early next morning, 
and after being breakfasted by the citizens, proceeded to 
Washington, arriving there September 3d. The roster of 
the command was as follows : 

Colonel — ^Dennis Heenan. 

Lieutenant Colonel — St. Clair A. Mulholland. 

Major — George H. Bardwell. 

Adjutant — J. Robinson Miles. 

Quarter Master — David S. Bunnell. 

Surgeon — John P. Ashcom. 

Assistant Surgeon — John W. Rawlins. 

Assistant Surgeon — Philip A. Boyle. 

Chaplain — Rev. Edward McKee. 

Sergeant Major — George M. Book. 

Quarter Master Sergeant — George McMahon. 

Commissary Sergeant — Daniel Reen. 

Hospital Steward — Frederick Wagner. 

COMPANY "a". 
Captain — vacant. 

First Lieutenant — William M. Hobart. 
.Second Lieutenant — Henry D. Price. 



26 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

COMPANY " B ". 

Captain — Thomas Murray. 

First Lieutenant — Timothy J. Hurley. 

Second Lieutenant — 

COMPANY "c". 
Captain — ^John Teed. 
First Lieutenant — Seneca G. Willauer. 
Second Lieutenant — John B. Parker. 

COMPANY "d ". 
Captain — William A. Peet. 
First Lieutenant — Jacob Ridgway Moore. 
Second Lieutenant — George L. Reilly. 

COMPANY " E ". 
Captain — John McNamara. 
First Lieutenant — Joseph H, G. Miles. 
Second Lieutenant — Robert J. McGuire. 

COMPANY " f". 
Captain — vacant. 

First Lieutenant — Joseph B. Kite. 
Second Lieutenant — Louis J. Sacriste. 

COMPANY " G ". 
Captain — Lawrence Kelly. 
First Lieutenant — Edmund Randall. 
Second Lieutenant — Garrett Nowlen, 

COMPANY " H ". 

Captain — John Smith. 

First Lieutenant — Francis T. Quinlan. 

Second Lieutenant — vacant. 

COMPANY " I ". 

Captain — vacant. 

First Lieutenant — John Stevens. 

Second Lieutenant — Robert B. Montgomery, 



IN WASHINGTON. 27 



U T^ 11 



COMPANY K 



Captain— John O'Neill. 

First Lieutenant — Patrick Casey. 

Second Lieutenant — Bernard Loughery. 



IN "WASHINGTON". 
SEPTEMBER 3d, 1862. 

After a rest at the Baltimore and Ohio Depot, which 
was then at the foot of Capitol Hill, the ranks were formed. 
Officers put on their white gloves, tightened their belts, 
stepped briskly to their posts and drew their bright and 
untried swords. The men straightened up and tried to 
look their best, touched elbows to the side of the guide, 
" column forward, guide right, march!" and in column of 
company front the regiment swept up the broad avenue, 
but, much to their astonishment, no one seemed to mind 
the new soldiers a bit. The martial music and fine march- 
ing were all wasted and thrown away. Ambulances dashed 
past, mounted orderlies rushed here and there, officers 
galloped in all directions, but ever}' one seemed too busy 
to pause and admire the new command. No crowds of 
interested citizens were gathered to see it pass. No bevies 
of pretty ladies waved "good bye". The good people of 
Washington had become accustomed to the music and 
marching. 

Five hundred regiments had passed over the same 
pavement within a few months, and this one furnished no 
new spectacle ; and so it moved along and wheeled into 
Seventh Street, en route for Long Bridge. 

As the corner was turned, every man looked back at 
the Capitol — that splendid mass of Virginian marble tower- 
ing to the skies — the majestic home of the Republic. The 
flag floated over the Senate and House where eight of the 
States had then no representatives. The dome was still 



28 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

in course of erection; the colossal statue of Liberty had not 
as yet been placed in position, and the men who were 
filing across the Potomac where going there to determine, 
by force of arms, whether the nation, like the Capitol, 
should still remain unfinished, or Liberty find a resting 
place in the calm heavens high above the halls of Congress 
— whether we should remain one country, a single people 
with but one destiny and one flag, or be torn into frag- 
ments with one portion of the land dedicated to human 
slavery ! 

Over the Long Bridge into Virginia ! A hot, sultry 
day it was, and the dust settling on the new uniforms 
dimmed the bright blue, so that by the time a halt was 
called, a dull gray was the prevailing color. 

And then the first taste of camp life, the excite- 
ment of getting up the tents, lighting the first camp fire, 
cooking the first camp coffee, eating the first "hard tack", 
mounting the first camp guard, and the hundred interest- 
ing incidents, so new, so fresh and so full of charm to 
the young patriots. 

Then the dress parade : " arms stacked on the color 
front!" the sentries' monotonous tread; the "retreat", 
and, from the neighboring fort, the evening gun ; the sad, 
sweet notes of "tattoo" sounding from the many camps 
and echoing from the woods and hills, all so charming to 
the men who, until now had only been playing soldiers, 
and who, but so short a time before, had been playing the 
more peaceful role of workman, busy in the marts of trade, 
wielding the implements of industry in the factory, or 
following the white wings of commerce over distant seas. 
Then a comrade's welcome greeting, for in the evening, 
the men from many other regiments swarmed into camp 
to meet the new comers. Ah! now indeed, it was real 
war. Now they were in the enemy's country, among real 
veterans who had been in real battles and showed real 
-scars and told wonderful tales of hair-breadth escapes and 
fierce encounters. 



IN WASHINGTON. 29^ 

One of the first visitors (Colonel McGrorty, Sixty-first 
Ohio), had been shot clean through the hings, and the 
wound was still open, but he was on duty, and to-morrow 
he was going with an escort of cavalry to visit the battle- 
field of Bull Run to see about burying the dead. " Would 
any one like to go along?" Yes, the Major could go. 
He is the one officer of a regiment who seems to have no 
particular duty to perform and can run around and enjoy 
life — so he can go. 

But just think ! here at last, right in front of the 
enemy. Their pickets were just beyond the hill, and only 
an hour or two of a galop and one could look on a real 
battlefield where the dead were still unburied. One of 
the men picked up a real minie ball, and a real shell 
that had been fired by a Confederate gun. Ah, what an 
evening it was! And how eagerly the embryo heroes 
drank in the stories of camp and field with which the 
veteran visitors regaled them. 

Night came at last. The newly made friends departed, 
the moon rose calm and serene, and the ranks lay down 
to sleep — to sleep and dream — to dream of home and 
friends, of mother's last blessing, of sister's last farewell, 
of wife and children who, in old Pennsylvania, were pray- 
ing at that same hour for the loved ones absent, of the dear 
girl that gave him the last embrace, and whom he hopes 
some day, when this cruel war is over, to call his own: 

Alas! how many of those homes will only be seen in 
dreams again. How many mothers, sisters and sweet- 
hearts will pray always for their soldier, but will look in 
vain for his return. 

How many of the dreamers will never cross the 
Potomac again! 

The first camp of the regiment on the soil of Virginia 
was established at Fort Craig, on Arlington Heights. 
Here the command remained for two days, the men greatly 
impressed with the new life and strange surroundings. 
Everywhere the evidence of active service and real war 



30 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

was visible. The earth was torn up in all directions, and 
strong forts topped every hill, a part of the immense line 
of earthworks raised to cover and protect the National 
Capitol, that was in plain view four or five miles away on 
the other side of the broad Potomac. September 6th, 
returned to Washington and drew ammunition and camp 
equipage. The arm furnished to the command was the 
"old pattern musket", that was loaded with a ball, 
calibre 69, and three buckshot. Sixty rounds was given 
to each man. On Sunday morning, September 7th, the 
regiment was ordered to march to Rockville, Md., and 
report to General D. N. Couch, commanding the Second 
Army Corps. Marched all day and reported as ordered, 
and immediately received orders to countermarch, return 
towards the Capitol and report to Colonel Morris, com- 
manding the defences north of Washington. September 8th 
was spent in marching for the new field of duty, and on 
the evening of that day the regiment went into camp near 
Tennallytown. Here it remained until the i8th, and the 
time was well spent in drill and learning the many and 
various duties incidental to active warfare. Many of the 
men learned for the first time that the pick and spade were 
as much implements of war as the musket and bayonet. 
What astonishment was depicted in their faces, when a 
large detail for fatigue duty faced a wagonload of entrench- 
ing -tools, and each one had to turn in for a long day's 
work. An officer of engineers of the regular army was in 
charge, and gave the men their first lesson in the very 
important branch of duty, "field fortifications". The 
work on which the regiment worked for two weeks was a 
square redoubt, with Abattis in front. The work, though 
of a very simple character, was most valuable to the com- 
mand in teaching the important matter of getting under 
cover quickly, and of using the earth, rocks, trees, and 
everything that nature places within reach, as a means of 
gaining the end desired. The new soldiers were quick to 
learn, and after ten days of the work, it seemed almost 



ARRIVAL AT HARPER'S FERRY. 81 

wonderful to hear how each one could talk with facility 
on the subject. Lunettes, redans, and bastion forts, curtains, 
palisades, chevaux-de-frise, gabions, fascines, and many 
other military terms to which nearly all had been strangers 
a week before, became as familiar words, and were rattled 
off by glib tongues in the most astonishing manner. The 
work with the pick and shovel soiled the new clothes 
somewhat, and the line did not look quite so bright on 
" dress parade", but after becoming thoroughly acclimat- 
ized to Virginia dust and mud, a little dirt was not regarded 
with horror. 

September iStli, marched to a point between Hall's 
Hill and Arlington Heights, near the Glebe House, and 
went into camp about six miles from Washington. 
Remained here until the 2ist, when orders were received 
assigning the command to the Eleventh Army Corps, and 
to report to General Franz Seigel, commanding, at Fairfax 
Court House. September 23d, established camp within 
half a mile of that ancient town, and spent a week in 
vigorous work, the regiment being drilled and instructed 
by General Steinweir, a Prussian officer of distinction. 
October 6th, the regiment was ordered to proceed to 
Harper's Ferry and become a part of the famous Irish 
Brigade, commanded by General Thomas Francis Meagher. 
On the afternoon of that day broke camp, marched towards 
Washington, and formed camp near Bailey's Cross Roads. 
Entered Washington, en route, October 9th, and drew over- 
coats for the command. Left via Baltimore and Ohio R. R. 



ARRIVAL AT HARPER'S FERRY. 

The train carr}ing the regiment arrived at Sandy Hook 
near Harper's Ferry at daybreak, October loth. The men 
woke up and tumbled out of the cars, sore, sleepy, and 
tired and formed line, and as the sun came over the hills, 
slowly moved through Harper's Ferry and climbed up the 



32 THE STORY OF THR ii6th REGIMENT. 

steep incline to Bolivar Heights. A halt for breakfast on 
the crest, and the men lit their little fires on ground that 
was literally covered with fragments of Confederates' 
shells, rested on the spot where Colonel Miles had made 
his stand and where he had surrendered to the enemy but 
a week or two before. Judging by the looks of the ground 
and evidence of the struggle one would think that he had 
reason to give up the fight when he did, the whole ground 
being strewn with pieces of shells, round shot, and debris 
of the battle. 

While the boys were eating and looking around at the 
magnificent scenery, a very amusing though rather serious 
incident occurred. A regiment from Maine, a new 
regiment also, came up to join the Second Corps and 
halted to prepare breakfast, and finding plenty of thirty- 
pound parrot shells lying around used them to build fire- 
places — forming four or five of the oblong bolts in a ring 
with the points up, making an excellent resting place for 
the coffee pot. But when the fire in the centre began to 
roar and crackle and the coffee to boil, the shells began to 
explode, much to the amazement of the boys from the 
Pine Tree State. Half a dozen of the cooks were wounded, 
the coffee spilled, the whole corps had a good laugh, and 
the men of Maine had learned something. 

Whilst eating breakfast. Colonel Moorehead, of the 
One Hundred and Sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers, rode up 
to shake hands and bid the men welcome. At noon the 
regiment fell in, marched over to the headquarters of 
the Irish Brigade and reported for duty. The Adjutant 
General, Major Tom O'Neill, assigned the command a 
spot on Bolivar Height, on a bluff overlooking the Shenan- 
doah River, on which to pitch camp, and the streets were 
soon measured off and tents erected. Towards evening, 
when matters had gotten into something like order, the 
Brigade Commander, General Thomas Francis Meagher, 
came to make a visit of courtesy to his new command. 
He came in state, splendidly mounted, and surrounded by 




BRIGADIER-GENERAL THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER 



ARRIVAL AT HARPER'S FERRY. 33 

a brilliant staff, the members of which seemed to wear a 
deal more gold lace than the regulations called for. 
Meagher was a handsome man, stately and courteous, with 
a wonderful flow of language and poetic ideas. When the 
canteen had been passed around the conversation became 
animated — Meagher displayed a most gracious manner 
that was captivating and charming to a remarkable degree, 
forming a strange contrast to his mood at other times when 
he tried to be stern, and his manner was not so affable. 
A pleasant evening it was, and when the General and his 
gorgeous staff rode away in the darkness, he left a pleasing 
impression behind him. Whilst at Harper's Ferry the 
state and national colors were presented to the regiment 
with great ceremony, the presentation being made on 
behalf of Pennsylvania, by Samuel P. Bates, deputy 
secretary of the Commonwealth, and Sergeant William 
H. Tyrrell, of Company K, was selected to carry the flag. 
The camp at Harper's Ferry will always be remembered 
by the members of the regiment with pleasure. The weeks 
spent there were full of enjoyment. Plenty of drills and 
work, to be sure, but still time enough for visiting through 
the camps, and rambles through the old, historic town. 
The ruins of the Engine House where old John Brown 
made his last stand was a point of geat interest to all. 
The magnificent scenery, the bright, sunshiny days, and 
the visit to the army of many ladies all lent a charm to 
the new life. That truly lovely woman, Mrs. General 
Thomas Francis Meagher, spent a week or two in camp, 
and many other wives of officers took advantage of the 
peaceful days to visit the army. Then there was the 
frequent target practice down by the river bank where the 
boys fired away at imaginary Confederates and filled trees 
full of buck and ball, with an implied understanding that 
the trunks were Confederate Generals ; the quiet picket 
line, three miles out towards Halltown ; the evening camp 
fire, reviews, martial music, and all the pomp and display 
of war rendered the days pleasing indeed. 



34 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

The brigade to which the regiment had been assigned 
was a celebrated one, renowned for hard fighting and 
famous fun. 

Instinctively one associates an Irishman with dash and 
courage, whether viewed as the presiding genius at Donny- 
brook Fair, or as the leader of armies. The very name of 
this brigade was redolent of dash and gallantry, of pre- 
cision of evolution and promptness of action. It was 
commanded successively by General Thomas Francis 
Meagher, and was often referred to as Meagher's Brigade; 
Colonel Patrick Kelly, who was afterwards killed at Peters- 
burg ; General Thomas A. Smyth, who lost his life while 
in command of another brigade, and Colonel Richard 
Byrnes, who was killed in battle at Cold Harbor. 

The First Division, Second Corps, of which the regiment 
had now become a part was known as Hancock's Division, 
and is celebrated as having done the hardest fighting and 
sustained the greatest loss of life. Within its ranks were 
the Irish Brigade, the Fifth New Hampshire, the One 
Hundred and Forty-eighth Pennsylvania, the Sixty-fourth 
New York, and other crack regiments. The losses aggre- 
gated 2,287 killed, 11,724 wounded, and 4,833 missing, 
making the appalling total of 18,844 ^^^^^ killed or 
wounded in this division during the war, yet it never 
at any one time numbered over 8,000 muskets. After 
the charge on Marye's Heights, which bloody assault 
it made under Hancock, it numbered only 2,800. Richard- 
son, its First Commander, fell at Antietam. The Irish 
Brigade consisted of the Sixty-ninth, Eighty-eighth and 
Sixty-third New York and Twenty-ninth Massachusetts 
Regiments. The three former were Irish regiments, the 
latter like the One Hundred and Sixteenth was composed 
principally of Americans and had been placed in the brigade 
temporarily. The men quickly fraternized with the old 
regiments and were soon fast friends. There was very 
little sickness in the command and not one death during 
the time it was camped at Bolivar Heights, but in many 



ARRIVAL AT HARPER'S FERRY. 35 

other Pennsylvania regiments camped nearby there was a 
great deal of fever and many funerals. It seemed strange 
that the men of the regiment, chiefly from the city, from 
the factory and workshop, should stand the exposure of 
the camp better than the men who came from the country. 
The farmer boys fell quickly under the new conditions of 
life, and the citizen proved to have more stamina and 
better able to endure the vicissitudes of a campaign, and 
this rule seemed to hold good during the entire war. 

At Harper's Ferry the command improved rapidly in 
every duty of the soldier. The picket line near Halltown 
ran through a delightful country. Firewood and food 
were plentiful, and picket duty was a pleasure rather than 
a pain. At one point the line ran between two farm-houses 
in which resided lovers — the boy within the Union line 
and his lady-love over the border. Neither were permitted 
to communicate, but they would come as close to the 
picket as allowable and look sweet at each other. Happy 
was the officer of the day who could eat breakfast with 
the lover and then cross the line and dine in the house of 
the beloved. He was sure to fare well in return for any 
brief message that he might carry. 

Whilejin camp at Bolivar Heights, General Edwin V. 
Sumner was succeeded in command of the second corps by 
General D. N. Couch ; and here the regiment first met 
that prince of soldiers. General Winfield Scott Hancock, 
then commanding the division, and with whom the future 
was to be so closely linked — whom the command was to 
follow on so many bloody fields and whom all so soon 
learned to love and honor as one of the greatest of soldiers. 
On the evening of October 15th orders were received to 
march at daybreak next morning on a reconnoissance down 
the Shenandoah valley to Charlestown. What an evening 
of pleasurable excitement with a dash of anxiety it was ! 
Men sat around the camp fires later than usual and talked 
of the morrow ; or rolled up in their blankets, dozed and 
dreamed of the anticipated fight, for all knew that there 



3(i THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

would be a meeting of some kind, as a Confederate force 
was within a few miles. Candles flickered all over the 
camp where others were writing letters home, thinking 
maybe that that would be their last night on earth. Some 
packed their knapsacks and were all ready to march hours 
before the dawn. No doubt many never slept at all but 
sat by the smouldering embers of the camp fire in quiet 
thought, gazing at the dark mountains or listening to the 
wash of the Shenandoah's waters. One can hardly imagine 
a moment so full of subdued excitement, anticipative hope, 
fear, sadness, pleasure and all the emotions that human 
nature is subject to as the eve of a young soldier's first 
battle, and as the stars looked down on the calm, still 
night at Harper's P'erry they shone on many a beating 
though biave young heart ; and on the morning of that 
eventful day when the new soldiers were to hear the whistle 
of the first hostile bullet, no reveille was necessary to call 
them to arms. Every man was ready long before the time 
to move. 

The reconnoissance was made by the First Division, 
Second Corps, reinforced by Campbell's company of Horse 
Artillery and Tomkin's Rhode Island Battery and a squad- 
ron of cavalry. The column soon struck the enemy's 
picket which., after a few shots, retired towards the village 
of Charlestown. When within three miles or so of the 
town the advance suddenly encountered the enemy. 

The two batteries galloped to the front and the cavalry 
passed to the rear. The infantry filed into the fields on 
each side of the road, quickly formed line and advanced. 
Meagher complimented the regiment by giving it the right 
of the brigade. Summer lingered late that year. Stacks 
of hay not yet gathered into the barns were still in the 
fields. The meadows were yellow with goldenrod, and the 
regimental line was formed in a field still green with rich 
clover. Ah, how beautiful that bright October morning 
when for the first time the command formed line to meet 
the enemy. Every face in the ranks beaming with 



ARKIVAI. AT HARPER'S FERRY. 37 

patriotism, courag-e, enthusiasm and liopcin tliat lonj^line 
of>oun^ men, tlie best of the land, men wlio liad risked 
their precious lives in defence of their country. The calm 
bravery with which they swept over the flowered fields on 
that Autumn morning was indicative of what was to be 
expected on many other and bloodier fields that were to be 
fought before the glorious morning of Appomattox was to 
end the battles and the marches. 

The batteries went into position near .some large trees. 
vShells began to fly and were seen bursting among the 
guns. Then the order to advance ; and when volunteers 
were called for, to go ahead and tear down the fences, 
every one was anxious to be first to rush into what would 
seem to be a dangerous duty. How they made the fences 
fly and clear the way! Then the advance in the clear, 
bracing air. Oh, it was glorious war at last! vShclls 
screaming and bursting and the guns roaring and echoing. 
But while men were killed and wounded in the batterie.s, 
so far as the command was concerned the fight amounted 
to but sound and smoke, for not a man of the regiment was 
hit. The force of the enemy proved to be but one battery 
of artillery .supported by some cavalry and, after a vigorous 
exchange of shots, retired before the advancing infantry. 
Column was formed again and the march to Charlestown 
resumed. When passing the spot where the batteries stood 
the men had a chance to .see a little of the horrors as well 
as the glories of a fight. Men were already digging .shal- 
low graves in which to bury bleeding mas.ses of human 
fle.sh and bones that a few moments before had been men full 
of life and vigor, standing by their guns and in turn hurl- 
ing death and defiance — the wounded were being carried to 
the rear on stretchers from which warm blood was dripping. 
Mammoth trees had been pierced through by the shells; 
and the earth was rent and torn in all directions. The 
Confederates, considering their numbers, had made a most 
gallant defence, and only yielded ground when the long line 
of Union infantry advanced. The battery that had fought 



38 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

the Union gnns so nobly proved to be the Richmond 
Howizer Artillery, co^nnianded by Captain H. H. vSniith, Jr. 
The brave fellow with his leg shot off was lying by 
the road side rejoicing that his guns got away safely. The 
division occupied Charlestown without further opposition, 
and about one hundred Confederate soldiers were found in 
a church that had been turned into a hospital. They 
became prisoners. Lieutenant Edmund Randall, of Com- 
pany G, was detailed to take charge of and parole them. 

The regiment bivouaced in the field where old John 
Brown had been hanged, and great interest was manifested 
when the men learned of the fact. After dark the rain 
fell in torrents, soaking everyone. Lieutenant Frank T. 
Quinlan was sent out in command of the picket, and 
reported next morning that his line had been charged in 
the darkness by a flock of sheep with, it was thought, a 
serious loss of life on behalf of the latter. Remaining in 
the town until evening of the following day, the whole 
command started on the return to Harper's Ferry and 
camped in the fields near Halltown during the night. 
Quite a jolly evening it was. Everyone was in overflowing 
spirits. The camp fires crackled on all sides. Plenty of 
fence rails and even fresh bread seemed to come from 
somewhere, and fresh pork was plentiful. The regiment 
had not lost a man, to be sure, but had seen a genuine 
fight, heard the scream of the shells and seen a caisson 
blown up and men knocked over. Surely it was a taste of 
real war and now everyone could almost begin to feel like 
veterans. 

While stationed at Harper's Ferry a call was made for 
volunteers to fill up the depleted ranks of some of the 
field batteries of the regular army. Twelve men of the 
One Hundred and Sixteenth volunteered, and were trans- 
ferred to Battery A, Fourth Artillery, where they served 
until the close of the war. Of the number, Michael 
Hickey, William Miller, Joseph Meander, and John Mc- 
Cormack were wounded at Gettysburg, and Francis Tracey 



ARRIVAL AT HARPER'S FERRY. 39 

was wounded at Shiloli ; and Patrick Mullin greatly 
distinguished himself at Gettysburg, the gallant young 
Captain Gushing falling in his arms when killed. 

October 26th tents were struck, and in the evening the 
army left Harper's Ferry, the second corps in the lead. 
The regiment, crossing the Shenandoah River on a pon- 
toon bridge, passed around the base of Louden Heights 
into the valley, after marching three miles, and bivouaced 
— a cold uncomfortable night with a da.sh of snow, enough 
to whiten the ground, and a heavy frost, the first of the 
season and very early for that part of Virginia. Next day 
marched to Key's Pass where the command rested for a 
day, and was mustered for pay. The pay-rolls were sent 
off, and November ist moved on again. 

November 2d reached Snicker's Gap. Some cavalry 
were observed hovering on the left of the column, while 
the mountains of the Blue Ridge and Gap were on the 
right. It .seemed improbable that the force could be a 
Confederate one, yet impossible that it could be Union 
troops; so Major Tom O'Neill, of the brigade staff, borrow- 
ing a guidon from one of the batteries, dashed over the fields 
to interview the strangers, Major George H. Bardwell 
galloping after him. O'Neill got there first and dis- 
covered, much to his annoyance, that he was a prisoner in 
the hands of a squadron of Confederate cavalry. Bardwell, 
discovering the mi.stake in time, wheeled around and made 
for his own column again and got away safely, although 
the boys in grey .sent a shower of shots after him. 
Skirmishers were quickly thrown out, and line of battle 
formed, but after exchanging a few shots the cavalry with- 
drew out of sight and got away only to be captured by one 
of the Union cavalry regiments the same evening. Major 
Tom O'Neill being re-captured and restored to the brigade. 
On the afternoon of November 4th the Second Corps 
reached Upperville, the cavalry in front having an artillery 
duel with some of Stewart's Confederate Cavalry that were 
trying to escape through Ashby's Gap. 



-ii* 'I'Hi'; STORY oi' I'll I') iif.Tii ki:('.imi';nt. 

NovciiiIkt ^lli .'iirivcd al Kccloilowii, aiul on tlic 7th 
Weill iiilo caiiii) al Wanciitoii. 'iMic inaicii down the 
I/>ii(|cii valley had hccii u{ the most dcliiditriil (diaraclci'. 
TIk- wi-allu-i, allci llic (list ni;^hl ont, was cli;u niiii.^. The 
nir pure, clear and hiaeinj; ; and as by slow niarehes llie 
(••.111 111 n moved alon^; eaeh day tliion^li a heanl ifnl com 1 try, 
with the nioniitains of I lie I'dne R idj;e hla/.in.t; with all the 
l)iillianc-y of Indian snninier, (he fields ;ii;]ow with tlie 
(l(»weis ol' Aiiliimn, I lie lieai Is of all vveic filled with joy. 
The evenini; ("amp (ius dm ini; this period were the most 
enjoyable. The valley, as >ct, had not been denuded of 
provisions; elii(d<ens, niiittoii and poi k were pleiitilnl, and 
fence rails made bright fires. Came was often added to 
the eainp kettle, rabbits and pailridu;es luMnj; in abun- 
dance ; ami one of the oddest incidents of the march was 
the swarms of" rabbils that wtmid im» hoppinj; over the 
fields in IVont of the line of battle as it swept across the 
connlry when the ciicnu' wonld :i])pear. Al the same 
t inie eove^•s of i)arlridiH- wonld rise lioni liie stubble, and 
in bewildeinienl and frii^hl fly into 1 he men's laces. 'iMie 
nej^ro si-rvanls caiinht <|nantilies of Ihe poor birds and 
killed thousands of rabbits. The odorous woods that 
skirted the base of the hills fnrnislud lovely spots lor (he 
bivouac. Till- rcoimeiit enjoyed all the pood thinj^s per- 
haps with a zest ).;realei than that oftheotliers aronnd us, for 
it had not as \v[ los( a man, and (he jest, story and sonj; 
(hat |)a,ssed ihei-vcninj^ hours away were not \et saddened 
b\ the thought of (he comrade who was missinj.^ and whose 
march was done. 

At Warreiiton ('.(-nei.il McClcllan left (he armv and 
(leiieral ihimside assumed command. On (lu> niornini^of 
No\(inbei isth the march wasiesnnied in ( hi" direc{ ion of 
I'-ri'dcricksbni).;. The march was steady but with all ni^ht 
res(s; and on (he cvi-iiin^ of (he 17(11 (he rej^iment camped 
in a field within three miles of iMcdericksburt;. Shortly 
alter dark on t h is i-vi'uini;, I)a\id \\. Major, an enlisted 
mail of Conipanv C, bc-canu- \iolcMill\ ill and dii'd inside 



ARKfVAI. AT HARPER'S I'KRRY. 41 

of an hour, the first death in the rcj^inicnt. His cv^nirades 
sat around him in silence, talked of his sudden departure, 
of his boyhood, home, and friends. Many of hiscomrades 
had been his schoolmates, and all felt his death deeply. 
He was tenderly wrapped in his blanket and prepared for 
burial next day, but at midnight orders came to march at 
daybreak and so the boy had to be buried at once. The 
men of Company C, were awakened and forming in line 
formed a silent and sorrowful little procession. The body 
was carried back for a mile to a little church yard that had 
been passed on the road the evening before. 'J'he body 
was laid on the ground while his companions stood sorrow- 
fully around, l^ine torches lit up the woods and gave 
light to the men who with pick and shovel got ready the 
lonely grave. The chaplain said a prayer, and so at mid- 
night the first brave boy of the regiment was laid at rest, 
his blanket marked U. S. his only shroud. The tears of 
his comrades sanctified the soil where they laid him, and 
though burierl far from his home in old Pennsylvania, 
hands as gentle and hwing as brothers' gave him the last 
sad rest. 

" No useless cofTin cnclosefl his breast, 
Nor in sheet nor in shroud we wound him, 
But he lay like a warrior taking his rest 
With his martial cloak around him. 

Early the next morning, November i8th, the corps 
marched on and the regiment went into camp in the woods 
about a mile and a half from the old village of Falmouth. 
A general feeling prevailed that the year's campaign was 
ended and winter quarters were next in order. The pine- 
covered hills and undulating sloj^es of meadow land, 
broken up by the running brooks and ripj)ling streams, 
furnished the most inviting sites for pleasant camps, and 
.soon the dark woods were lit up by camj) fires. Camp 
fires fifty feet long, whole trees cut down, piled uj) and 
forever kept cheerfully crackling and burning, around 



42 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

which the whole company would gather and with their 
faces ruddy with the pleasant glow, spend the long even- 
ings in uproarious fun, the day being filled up with 
marching, drilling, inspection, and reviews without limit. 
Thus passed three of the most agreeable weeks ever 
remembered in the regiment. This camp, which the 
command was destined to occupy for six months, was 
arranged strictly in accordance with regulations. The 
streets were laid out with a view of allowing the tall pine 
trees to stand, and these were the source of greatest pleas- 
ure, sheltering alike from sunshine and storm. The ground 
was on the rise of a hill, and generally healthful. A few, 
however, succumbed to the usual camp fever and sickness 
due to exposure. Corporal William E. Martin, of Com- 
pany C, died a few days before the battle of Fredericks- 
burg. He was an excellent soldier, and greatly beloved 
by his comrades. Several changes took place in the 
personnel of the officers; Lieutenant J. Ridgway Moore of 
Company D, was detailed as Aid-de-Camp on the staff of 
General David B. Birney, serving in that capacity until the 
end of the war, and greatly distinguishing himself. Lieu- 
tenant William H. Hobart of Company A, was detailed to 
the staff of General Winfield S. Hancock as Provost 
Marshal of the division, and he never re-joined the regi- 
ment, but remained until the end of the war at Division 
Headquarters. The Twenty-ninth Regiment, Massachu- 
setts Infantry, Colonel Pierce, was detached from the Irish 
Brigade and replaced by the Twenty-eighth Regiment 
from the same State, commanded by Colonel Richard 
Byrnes, an officer of the regular army, and who was after- 
wards killed at Cold Harbor. 



FREDERICKSBURG. 4»; 



CHAPTER 11. 



FREDERICKSBURG. 



TN the early days of November, 1862, the mountains of 
the Blue Ridge looked down upon one of those scenes of 
martial pageantr}', a display of force and arms and men in 
battle array that happily our country but seldom witnesses. 
For hours and days the great army of the Potomac, 
masses of gallant men, infantry, cavalry, and artillery, 
more than one hundred thousand in number, veterans of 
the Peninsula, victors of Antietam, swept by in serried 
ranks, with faultless step and perfection of discipline. 
Old hero Sumner was there, and Sedgwick, whom the 
men called "Father"; and Franklin, and the brilliant 
Sickles, and x\verill, Reynolds, Smith, Couch, and Bayard, 
who was so soon to fall ; Meade and the superb Hancock,, 
and French, and Meagher, the orator-soldier from the 
Emerald Isle, and the impetuous Custer, whose golden 
locks were to fall in the Black Hills, and so in review they 
all passed by. Although the army had only a few short 
weeks before gained a glorious victory, as yet the greatest 
and most important of the war, a victory that had saved 
the National Capitol and checked the march of the South- 
ern army towards the North, yet the occasion was one of 
the deepest sorrow, the saddest hour that the army of the 
Potomac ever knew. Every heart beat with a subdued 
throb, every eye was moist, and tears wet alike the cheek 
of the white-haired Sumner and the youngest drummer 
boy, for the great soldier who had organized and made this 
an army, the General who possessed the absolute confi- 



44 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

dence and love of every man there, was taking his farewell 
of those corps which he had formed and taught and led so 
well. It was the last review of the noble army by the 
only General who had, as yet, shown the ability to lead it, 
and who had just relinquished the command, and who had 
been relieved at the moment when he had made another 
victory almost a certainty, and the destruction of the army 
of Northern Virginia almost assured. 

The order relieving General McClellan from command 
was received on the evening of November 7th, and a most 
ungracious moment was selected for his sudden removal, a 
moment pregnant with hope for the army and the cause. 
Never had his genius flashed forth with such lustre. 

By the celerity of his movements and admirable hand- 
ling of the army he had accomplished a most important 
strategic advantage. 

Leaving Harper's Ferry on the 26th of the previous 
month he had, by forced marching and a series of the most 
brilliant cavalry battles and skirmishes, seized the passes 
of the Blue Ridge, and masked so well the movements of 
the main army as to completely deceive General Lee as to 
his whereabouts and purposes ; and on the evening of 
November 7th when he had concentrated the army in the 
vicinity of Warrenton, he had succeeded in practically 
severing the two wings of the army of Northern Virginia 
— Longstreet, with his corps, was at Culpepper ; and 
Jackson, with the remainder of the army, was at Millwood, 
west of the mountains, and two days' march away. 

It was General McClellan's intention to strike Long- 
street, and the early dawn of the following day would have 
found every corps in motion with that end in view, and 
with the forces of one hundred and twenty-seven thousand 
men, full of fight and hope and reliance on their leader, 
who could doubt the result ? Longstreet would have been 
crushed before help could have reached him, and then he 
could have taken his own time to finish the work and 
Jackson. 




MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE B. McCLELLAN. 



FREDERICKSBURG. 45 

But, says some one, Longstreet would not have fought, 
but would have retired and formed a junction with the 
remainder of Lee's forces. Admit this, and still McClellan 
had the advantage. In order to connect with Jackson's 
corps, Longstreet would have ta fall back upon Staunton, 
uncovering Richmond and leaving the road to that city 
open and clear. McClellan would then have moved 
promptly in, and the Union Flag would have floated over 
the Confederate Capitol. 

" But then ", says the Comte de Paris, "Jackson and 
Lee had certainly projected some bold movement upon 
McClellan's rear". This is not at all probable. It is 
known now, beyond a doubt, that General Lee had no 
such intention, and was not even aware of the position 
or whereabouts of the Union Army. Yet, admitting 
the surmises of the Comte de Paris as correct, General 
McClellan would have welcomed any such movement on 
the part of the enemy with delight. It would have more 
effectually separated their forces and rendered the final 
triumph more certain. 

General McClellan had certainly succeeded in placing 
the Army of the Potomac between the two wingfs of the 
army of General Lee, and he could have failed only by 
the most lamentable blundering. He had placed the army 
in a position similar to that which Napoleon occupied in 
1796, when he broke through the centre of the Austrian 
Army at Montenotte, and then defeated in succession, the 
two wings at Medesimmo Dego and Mondavi ; and again 
in 1809, when opposed to the Archduke Charles, he 
pierced the centre of his too-extended line, and defeated 
successively the Austrian forces at Abensburg, Echmuhl 
and Ratisbon. 

But, by his removal from the command of the army 
at this time the great advantages secured by General 
McClellan to the army and the nation were forever lost. 

At noon, on November nth, with the torn battle flags 
drooping to do him honor, and the most enthusiastic 



46 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

demonstration of affection by all the troops, General 
■George B. McClellan, bidding adieu to the army, and 
saying : " We shall ever be comrades in supporting the 
■Constitution of our country and the nationality of our 
people", left, and the soul of the army seemed for a time 
to go with him. 

Not, indeed, that victories were not afterwards gained, 
• or that the army ever failed to respond to every call. 
Under Burnside, the men without a murmur marched to 
death in a most hopeless contest. With Hooker they 
fought in a way that would have earned success had the 
head not failed. 

With Meade they hurled back the enemy from Gettys- 
burg and covered the battalions with new glory, and under 
■Grant they stood up day after day, in battle after battle, 
with stubborn, unflinching courage, while brigades, divi- 
sions and corps were literally wiped from the face of the 
earth ; but never again from that day until the end did 
the hearts of all the members of the army beat in sym- 
pathetic unison with that of the commander. 

Then General Burnside, the gallant soldier and honor- 
able gentleman, protesting against the responsibility forced 
upon him, with unsteady hand gathered up the reins and 
inaugurated the campaign that was to terminate in the 
impotent, useless, and sanguinary disasters of Fredericks- 
burg. 

The six corps were organized in three grand divisions, 
under Sumner, Franklin, and Hooker ; and with Sumner 
and the Second Corps in the lead, marched for the Rappa- 
hannock. 

On the evening of November 17th, the head of the 
column struck the river near the old Virginia town of 
Falmouth. On the opposite bank could be seen a battery 
of four guns, which promptly opened. General Sumner 
•ordered Pettit's Battery to the front, and in just eight 
minutes from the time that Pettit fired his first shot the 



FREDERICKSBURG. 47 

enemy had ceased firing and the four guns stood silenced 
and abandoned. 

Sumner, whose seventy-two years, had not dampened 
the ardor of youth, carried away by the enthusiasm of the 
moment, called for troops to ford the river, seize the guns, 
and occupy the city. 

The Irish Brigade had bivouacked in a field hard by 
and were cooking coffee and resting after a hard day's 
march, but in three minutes after receiving the order the 
brigade was going to the river on a run. Then Sumner, 
remembering that he had orders not to cross, and being too 
old a soldier to disobey, stopped the movement and sent 
back to General Burnside, asking permission to occupy 
the city, and the answer came, a peremptory " No !" So 
the army was compelled to look at the prize without 
grasping it. 

Plow very odd the official report of this affair by 
General Lee when read along with the plain facts. He 
says : " The advance of General Sumner reached Falmouth 
on the afternoon of November 17th, and attempted to cross 
the Rappahannock, but was driven back by Colonel Ball, 
with the Fifteenth Virginia Cavalry, four companies of 
Mississippi Infantry, and Lewis' Light Battery". 

Why the army did not cross the river and push on to 
Richmond has often been told, blundering by somebody 
and no pontoons ready. By and by, however, the pontoons 
arrived, but too late. Lee and Jackson and Longstreet 
had also put in an appearance, and from the bluffs one 
could see them busy, very busy indeed. Every day gave 
new evidence of their industry. Every hour saw new 
earthworks rising in front, redoubts, lunettes and bas- 
tioned forts, rifle-pits and epaulments for the protection of 
artillery arose in rapid succession until the terraced 
heights, which ran parallel to the city and two miles 
below and nearly a mile to the rear of it, were crowned 
with artillery, bristling with bayonets, and so formidable 



48 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

as to make an attempt to carry the place an act of insanity. 
The coming fight was to be an a!='sanlt upon an intrenched 
position rather than an open battle. 

Sometime about the first week in December a council 
of war was held at headquarters, at which General Burnside 
and the grand division and corps commanders were present. 
It is difficult at this day to tell just what was determined 
at this council. As one of those present afterwards 
remarked, they talked to General Burnside at arm's 
length. There would seem to have been a total absence 
of that harmony and unity of purpose so necessary to 
success between the commanding general and his lieu- 
tenants. A painful uncertainty, a vagueness of purpose 
hung over these meetings ; but it was evident, however, 
that a flank movement by way of Skenker's Neck, twelve 
miles below the city, was discussed and determined upon, 
and the council adjourned, believing this to be the pro- 
gram. A few days after this, General Burnside sent for 
one of the corps commanders, General W. F. Smith, and 
invited him to ride with him along the high bluffs, 
Spoffbrd Heights, that skirted the river in front of the 
city. He there told him that he (Burnside) had determined 
to change the order of battle and to cross and fight at the 
city, and gave as one of his reasons, that Colonel Hunt 
had called his attention to the excellent opportunity that 
Spoflford Heights offered for the employment of all our 
artillery. The general officer in question, after being 
warned by General Burnside not to communicate the fact 
of the change to anyone, left him with a sinking heart and 
dark forbodings of the coming storm. 

General Burnside, in a letter to General Halleck, dated 
December 19th, 1862, a few days after the battle, confirms 
the idea that the original intention, known to not only the 
grand division and corps commanders, but also to General 
Halleck and the President, was that of turning Lee's flank, 
and in this letter he magnanimously takes all the respon- 
sibility for the change and failure upon himself. He says : 



FREDERICKSBURG. 49 

" I have the honor to offer the following reasons for moving 
the Army of the Potomac across the Rappahannock sooner 
than was anticipated by the President, the Secretary of 
War, or yourself, and for crossing at a point different from 
the one indicated to you at. our last meeting at the 
President's". 

" This contemplated flank movement was discovered by 
the enemy, and General Lee, to be prepared for it, had 
sent General Hill's division to the vicinity of Skenker's 
Neck, and the balance of Jackson's corps was stationed so 
as to support him." This fact of Lee's army having been 
partially separated seems to have been the only reason for 
General Burnside altering, unknown to any of his subor- 
dinates, the plan of operations. He thought that by 
rapidly throwing the whole army across at P'redericksburg 
and striking a vigorous blow he could pierce the extended 
and weakened line and divide the forces of the enemy 
which were down the river from those on the crest in the 
rear of the town. 

So the night of December loth found the army in 
motion. 

" The midnight brought the signal sound of strife, 
The morn, the marshalling in arms — the day. 
Battle's magnificently stern array." 

The roads leading to the front were filled with troops 
marching in silence to the fray. Camps deserted, the 
camp fires burning dim, the woods pouring out their 
thousands, everyone, everything moving towards the 
river ; the infantry massing in rear of the bluffs by the 
stream, and the chief of artillery. Colonel Hunt, covering 
those heights with one hundred and forty-seven cannon. 
The pontoniers were hurrying the boats, planks and 
bridge material to the water's edge. Working rapidly, 
swiftly, but so noiselessly that those within one hundred 
yards of the enemy's pickets, who were lined on the oppo- 
site shore, were not heard, the pontoons were brought- 



50 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

down and quietly let into the water. Great piles of plank- 
ing arose, a multitude of spectral men were hurrying to 
and fro, cannon were gotten into position and more than 
one hundred thousand cavalry and infantry massed at 
hand. Yet there was no confusion, no clashing, so perfect 
the discipline, and the silence was profound — no audible 
sound save the lapping of the waves on the prow of the 
pontoons, and the moaning of the wind in the forest trees, 
and so the night wore on. 

Two regiments of Engineers, the Seventeenth and 
Twentieth New York, stood prepared to build the bridges, 
and two regiments of Hancock's division, the Fifty-seventh 
New York, Colonel Chapman, and the Sixty-sixth New 
York, Colonel Bull, were on hand to cover and support 
them. 

Towards dawn the work began. Swiftly fastening the 
boats to the bank, getting others into position, lashing 
them together, putting down the planking — so the work 
for a few moments went on. Then the sharp crack of a 
rifle broke the stillness of the night. A pontonier dropped 
his burden, fell forward into the dark, cold water, and 
went floating down with the tide, the first victim, the first 
corpse of the fight. More shots and balls went whistling 
through the fog. Then two loud reports of heavy ordnance 
pealed from Marye's Heights, echoed along the Valley of 
the Rappahannock and reverberated among the hills, the 
signal for the concentration of the Army of Northern 
Virginia, and the battle of Fredericksburg began. The 
firing becomes heavier, volleys of musketry, the rifle balls 
rattled on the planks and the boats were riddled. Many, 
very many of the pontoniers fell and went floating away. 

It is so dark and the fog so dense that one could see but 
a few yards from the edge of the shore. Men went out on 
the bridge in the darkness and never returned. The fire was 
hot and deadly, but the men stuck to their work gallantly. 
Every moment the numbers of the artificers became less. 
■ Bull and Chapman returned the fire, but they were shooting 



FREDERICKSBURG. 51 

at random and into the dark, while the enemy knew by 
the sound of the bridge building where to throw their iron. 
Colonel Bull was killed ; Chapman fell wounded, and the 
losses were so great that the engineers fell back and for a 
time gave up the attempt. Again they tried it and again 
they failed ; a third time they rushed at the work, but 
found it impossible to continue, and the brave little band 
fell back leaving the bridge half finished, slippery and 
saturated with blood. 

Then daylight appeared. The work must be pushed. 
The bridge must be finished. The riflemen that checked 
the work must be driven out of their shelter, and for that 
purpose General Burnside decided upon treating the army 
to one of those rare and magnificently grand spectacles of 
war — the bombardment of a city ; so the order went forth 
to batter down the town, and about ten o'clock twenty-nine 
batteries, one hundred and forty-seven guns, opened. 
Then for an hour or two the firing was incessant, the 
sharp crack of the rifled guns, the heavy boom of the 
larger ordnance mingled with the echoes from the woods 
and hills, until separate sounds could no longer be distin- 
guished and the roar became continuous. Clouds of 
sulphurous smoke rolled back from the masked artillery, 
the air became loaded, suffocating, with the odor of gun- 
powder. The fog still lay heavy in the river ; the water 
margins and the low lands and the city were almost hidden 
from view. One of the church spires shot up through the 
mist, glittering in the morning sun, and a few of the 
tallest chimneys and buildings struggled into sight. Tons 
of iron were hurled into the town. Shells, solid shot, 
shrapnel and canister raked and swept the streets. One 
could not see, but could hear the walls crumbling and 
timbers crashing ; then a pillar of smoke rose up above the 
fog, another and another, increasing in density and volume, 
rose skyward and canopied the doomed city like a pall. 
Flames leaped high out of the mist. The city was on fire. 
Again the engineers made an attempt to finish the bridge. 



52 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

but thev found Barksdale with his Mississippians still at 
their posts and their fire as accurate as ever, and the effort 
was finally abandoned. Then Colonel Hunt suggested an 
idea, that a party be sent over in pontoon boats to drive 
the sharpshooters from the opposite shore. Strange that 
the simple device was not thought of before. Historic 
examples to suggest it were plenty. So late as 1799, this 
was successfully employed by Massena in the passage of 
the Limmat, where the bridges and boats were started 
simultaneously, and in three minutes from starting, six 
hundred French troops were landed, had captured the 
enemy's pickets and the bridge was then finished without 
further molestation. But better late than never. A dozen 
of the boats were lying by the river bank and plenty of 
volunteers were ready to man them. The Seventh Michi- 
gan and Nineteenth Massachusetts rushed down the steep 
bank, launched the boats and were off. The oarsmen 
pulled lustily, the Southern marksmen redoubled their 
fire, many in the boats were killed and wounded, but in a 
few minutes the further shore was reached. The men, 
leaping out, formed in line and dashing through the 
smoke and fire drove the sharpshooters from their shelter. 
Soon more boat-loads of men crossed over, the river front 
was soon in possession of the Union troops, and the work 
of building the bridges progressed to completion. 

But the city was not yet captured. The first troops 
that crossed over the bridges thus constructed, had to 
fight for every foot of ground, and it was not until after 
dark, and after a sharp contest through streets, lanes and 
alleys, met at every step by the fire of Barksdale's men, 
from windows, roofs and every available point, that the 
Union line finally halted for the night on Carolina Street. 

The dead were everywhere, in the street, on the cellar- 
doors, in yards of the houses, in the gardens by the 
river. Some few of the citizens had remained during the 
bombardment, taking refuge in the cellars, and two of them 
were killed, a man named Jacob Grotz and a negro woman. 



FREDERICKSBURG. 53 

On the left, half a mile below the city, where Franklin 
was to cross, but little difficulty had been met, and he had 
finished his bridges early in the morning. 

It was then more than twelve hours since the signal- 
gun of General Lee summoned his divided army to 
concentrate, and as the sole hope of success on the part of 
General Burnside rested on being able to cross the river in 
force and take the enemy by surprise, it would look as 
though the Union cause had already sustained a heavy 
blow in this unfortunate delay. Moments were precious, 
yet the whole night of this day was suffered to pass with- 
out a move, and the Union troops did not begin crossing 
in force until the morning of the 12th, and by five o'clock 
of that day the grand division of Sumner had crossed into 
the city and that of Franklin had crossed on the lower 
bridges. 

It was a cold, clear day, and when the One Hundred 
and Sixteenth Regiment filed over the bluffs and began 
descending the abrupt bank to cross the pontoons into the 
town, the crash of two hundred guns filled the valley of 
the Rappahannock with sound and smoke. 

The color-bearers of the Irish Brigade shook to the 
breeze their torn and shattered standards • 

" That old green flag, that Irish flag, 
It is but now a tattered rag, 
But India's store of precious ore, 
Hath not a gem worth that old flag ". 

The Fourteenth Brooklyn ("Beecher's Pets") gave the 
brigade a cheer, and the band of Hawkin's Zouaves struck 
up " Garry Owen", as it passed. Not so pleasant was the 
reception of the professional embalmers who, alive to 
business thrust their cards into the hands of the men as 
they went along, said cards being suggestive of an early 
trip home, nicely boxed up and delivered to loving friends 
by express, sweet as a nut and in perfect preservation, etc., 
etc.. The boys did not seem to be altogether pleased with 



54 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

the cold-blooded allusions to their latter end, and one of 
them from the Emerald Isle called out to a particularly 
zealous undertaker : " D'ye moind thim blankets. Well, 
only that we are in a bit of a hurry, we'd be after giving yez 
the natest koind av a jig in the air, and be damned to yez". 

Then the One Hundred and Sixteenth passed over the 
river and was massed on an old wharf by the bank of the 
stream and rested during the afternoon and night of 
the 1 2th. 

The streets were strewn with the dead. Some had been 
killed with the fire of the artillery and their bodies were 
shapeless masses of flesh, torn and mangled out of all 
resemblance to human beings. 

Others killed by a rifle ball appeared as natural as life. 

Numbers of Barksdale's men lay where they had fallen 
when disputing the passage of the stream. One group had 
an almost fascinating interest to the young men of the 
regiment, because every one of the party was boyish and 
handsome. They had fought in a garden by the riverside, 
where they had been somewhat sheltered from the fire, and 
had died just where they had been placed. There was not 
a sign of a struggle near the spot, and, singular to say, no 
indication of blood or wounds. They all had been shot 
through the body, and each had quietly dropped as he 
fired. The bodies were frozen hard, and all retained the 
appearance of life — eyes were open, faces placid and calm; 
and one bright looking youth seem to smile in his sleep. 
Gazing upon these brave Southern boys as they lay amid 
the frozen leaves and decaying flowers of the garden one's 
mind was apt to wander to the Southern homes where the 
sun was still shining and the roses still blooming, and the 
mournful Christmas there would be in many a far off" 
Mississippi home whose soldier lad would never return 
again. 

In the river by the wharf where the regiment bivouaced 
some barges ladened with tobacco had been sunk. The 
boys succeeded in fishing up great quantities of the weed 



FREDERICKSBURG. 55 

and lined their blouses with it. After the fight one heard 
of many of the men whose lives had been saved by the 
solid plugs of tobacco stoppuig the ball intended for their 
heart, but there was no tangible evidence of the fact. The 
fellow whose Bible stopped the deadly minie was around 
in every camp, and he had his testament to show for it, 
but the plug of tobacco that stood between the soldier and 
death was chewed in to nothing, or the evidence went up in 
smoke. The night of the 12th was exceedingly cold and 
dismal, and, when morning came, the sun had a long 
struggle with the chilling fog before full daylight filled the 
valley. The men chewed on their hardtack and resumed 
their pastime of fishing up tobacco, and listening to the 
shells that passed over their heads in countless numbers. 

The night of the 12th was to the men of the One 
Hundred and Sixteenth one of the most dismal and miser- 
able ever experienced. The cold was bitter and penetrat- 
ing. The troops massed so close that there was not even 
room enough for the men to lie down on the ground, and 
it was a fortunate man who could secure a cracker box to 
sit upon during the weary hours. Sleep was impossible, 
it was so cold and chilly. Groups of officers occupied the 
parlors of the fashionable residences, spending the night 
in song and story ; and Southern pianos played accompan- 
iments to " Hail Columbia ", and the " Star Spangled 
banner". Fires still lit up. portions of the town. The 
firmament was aglow with a magnificent Aurora Borealis, 
and the artillerists strove to rival the glories of nature and 
illumined the sky with scores of shells whose trailing fuses 
filled the air with streams of light. 

When daylight came a few small fires were lit and some 
of the men enjoyed a cup of coffee, but many chewed 
their hardtack without a warm drink to comfort them. 

The long hours of the night had slipped away and the 
morning of December 13th broke chill and cold. It was 
now thirty-six hours since the movement against Freder- 
icksburg began, giving General Lee ample time to get his 



56 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

corps together, destroying any virtue that might have 
existed in General Burnside's plan of attack and rendering 
it absolutely abortive. Owing to the delay in forcing the 
passage of the river the enterprise had been stripped of 
its only hope and the failure was complete. The only 
alternative was to withdraw the army or adopt an entirely 
new plan of battle. 

To retire was not thought of, the fight must proceed. 
The evil genius of General Burnside seemed to irresistibly 
beckon him on to destruction. The silver lining of the 
cloud that was gathering was a suggestion that originated 
with General Franklin: "That the battle should be 
fought on the left : that a column of thirty or forty thous- 
and men should be formed and at daylight, on the morning 
of the 13th, and make the main assault on the Confederate 
right with this body ". 

In preparation for this movement General Burnside 
visited the left at 5 P. M. of the 12th and discussed with 
Generals Franklin, Smith and Reynolds this order of 
battle, and at dark left them with the full understanding 
that it was adopted by him, promising to send the orders 
for carrying it into execution before midnight, thus giving 
time enough to General Franklin to get troops into posi- 
tion during the night. 

Had this attack in Franklin's front been carried out it 
would most likely have been successful, and General 
Burnside would have gone down to posterity as a great 
General. But it was not to be, and instead of pushing 
the preparation for the only movement that contained a 
ray of hope. General Burnside went back to his head- 
quarters and went to bed, leaving Franklin, Smith, and 
Reynold's anxiously awaiting orders that were to insure 
a victory. And how patiently they waited with their 
respective staffs, sitting up all night, thinking, wondering, 
trying to conceive what important event . must have 
happened to prevent the arrival of the expected orders. 
At 7.30 o'clock, next morning, December 13th, General 




iMAJOR-GENERAL A. E. BURNSIDE. 



FREDERICKSBURG. 57 

Hardie handed to Franklin directions for a new plan of 
battle, not that which was discussed the night before, but 
the most remarkable, incogruous, disjointed plan of action, 
with the least possible hope of success that ever emanated 
from the brain of a commander: " That Franklin should 
keep his whole command in position for a rapid movement 
down the old Richmond road. That he should send out 
a division to seize the enemy's heights at Captain Hamil- 
ton's, on the extreme right of the enemy's line". He also 
ordered another column of a division or more from the 
command of General Sumner, to seize the heights in the 
rear of the town. Two isolated attacks by light columns, 
on distant positions, rendered almost impregnable and held 
by the flower of the Confederate Army ! 

Franklin selected the Pennsylvania Reserves for the 
almost superhuman task, for the reason that the division 
at the moment lay nearest the point of attack. General 
Meade, their commander, was one of the most discreet and 
able officers in the service, and the division was one of the 
most reliable. The selection was most admirable. 

The line of march to reach the heights to be carried 
"was across a level plain, over which hung a thick haze. 
The Reserves had been encamped here for some time the 
year before when attached to McDowell's forces and knew 
every inch of the ground to be marched over and fought 
for. So, having gotten his instructions, Meade started the 
division into the fog and into a fight that was to cover 
with glory himself and his command, though with the 
cost of nearly half their number, the objective point, the 
heights at Hamilton's, in a direct line, two miles away. 

The division was formed with the First Brigade on the 
right, the Third on the left, and the Second in support. 

Hardly had the march commenced v/hen the enemy 
began firing. Although they could not see the Union 
lines they seemed to feel that something was going on, 
and solid shot and shells went flying over the fog-shrouded 
plain. Meade rode along the lines giving words of 



58 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

encouragement to each regiment. As he passed Colonel 
McCandless he said, alluding to a possible promotion, 
"A star this morning, William ?" To which McCandless. 
replied: " More likely a wooden overcoat ". Then a shell 
passed through the horse ridden by McCandless, and he 
did the rest of his fighting for that day, on foot. And so 
for a half hour the march went on. Then young Con- 
federate Major Pelham, of Stuart's Horse Artillery, from 
a point on the Port Royal road opened a telling fire on 
Meade's left flank, enfilading his whole line, and became 
so annoying as to cause him to halt. The line paused, and 
the four light batteries of the Reserves returned Pelham' s 
fire so vigorously as to cause him to withdraw suddenly.. 

Stuart, with his cavalry, made threatening demonstra- 
tions, and General Doubleday deployed on Meade's left tO' 
check him. 

Franklin instructed Gibbons to support Meade's right, 
and again the column moved forward. To meet the attack 
General I^ee had arranged Jackson's Corps in the woods 
at Hamilton's with A. P, Hill's division in front, Early's, 
and Taliaferro's divisions composing his second line, and 
D. N. Hill's division in reserve. The division of A. P. 
Hill forming the advanced line was composed of the 
brigades of Archer, Lane, and Pender, with the brigades of 
Gregg and Thomas directly in their rear. 

As Meade neared the enemy's line the fog suddenly 
lifted, giving the Confederate artillerists a clear view of the 
advancing lines. Three batteries, those of Wooder, Brax- 
ton, and Carpenter, that had been pushed out on the 
skirmish line in front of Lane's Brigade, and the five 
batteries of Lieutenant-Colonel Walker's command, opened, 
using shell and canister, damaging the Union alignment 
considerably. The four light batteries of the Reserves 
replied energetically, and Meade pushed on. General 
Smith (Baldy), seeing the trouble from afar directed the 
fire of his Sixth Corps guns upon the three batteries first 
named and compelled their withdrawal. The crowd of 



FREDERICKSBURG. 59- 

skirmishers that covered the advance struck and drove in 
those of the Confederates. 

The battle waxed hot, but Meade, oblivious to the roar, 
impetuously rushed on. With a great crash his infantry 
struck that of the enemy. The fighting, for a few- 
moments, was extremely earnest. The men vied with 
each other in acts of noble daring. Many prisoners were 
taken, and one regiment, the Nineteenth Georgia, was- 
captured entire, young Charles C. Upjohn, Company K, of 
the Second Reserves, tearing from the hands of the color- 
bearer, the flag of that regiment. The Union men drove 
Lane's Brigade back across the railroad into the woods, 
and crushing through the interval between the brigades of 
Archer and Pender flanked both their lines and compelled 
them to fall back. Then up the wooded crest with a rush 
so sudden, that General Maxey Gregg, the Confederate 
commander of the second line, could not believe that the- 
advancing troops was the Union line, and fell dead while 
trying to prevent his South Carolinians from firing, but 
his men discovering the error poured a withering fire into^ 
Meade's line. 

At this moment the divisions of Generals Early and 
Taliaferro swept forward at a double-quick, striking Meade 
with irresistible force and overpowering numbers, envel- 
oping his flanks and endangering his whole command. 

The situation became most critical, the surroundings- 
awfully grand. The woods echoed and re-echoed every 
shot until the roar was appalling. Great shells went 
screaming through the forest, cutting down giant trees,. 
and the crash of the falling timber added to the deafening 
sound. 

In the midst of the tumult the reserves fell back and 
were soon out again on the open plain. In one short hour 
they had known the thrilling ecstacies of victory and 
disasterous defeat. 

Meade halted after re-crossing the railroad, and re- 
formed the division, but he was not allowed much time to- 



■60 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

rest. Early pushed after him, and the brigade of Atkinson 
and Hoke struck with vigor at the shattered ranks, 
forcing him to fall back rapidly and with some confusion. 
Franklin, forseeing the difficulty, had ordered Birney's 
division to the front, and he arrived just in time to check 
the advancing enemy and save what was left of the reserves. 
While Meade was moving on Hamilton's the troops in the 
city were prepared to strike. 

About 9 o'clock whilst listening to the roar of 
battle on the left, the order to " Fall in " was given, and 
then until noon the command stood in line on one of the 
streets near the river and parallel with the stream. It was 
a trying ordeal for all. Shells were screaming overhead 
and frequently striking among the houses of the city, 
scattering the bricks and stones and wounding many. 
Although the noise of the artillery, flying shells and 
crumbling buildings was appalling, the silence in the ranks 
and the perfect order maintained was most admirable. 

The wounded went past in great numbers, and the 
appearance of the dripping blood was not calculated to 
•enthuse the men or cheer them for the first important 
battle. A German soldier sitting in a barrow, with his 
legs dangling over the side, was wheeled past. His foot 
had been shot off" and the blood was flowing from the 
stump. The man was quietly smoking, and when the 
barrow would tip to one side he would remove the pipe 
from his lips and call out to the comrade who was pushing: 
" Ach, make right " ! It seemed ludicrous and some of 
the men smiled, but the sight was too much for one boy in 
the regiment, William Dehaven, who sank in the street in 
a dead faint. The incident occurred just as the regiment 
moved off" to go iut the fight and the poor boy was left 
lying in the street. He recovered his senses to find his 
regiment gone, and the brave fellow picked up his musket 
and ran out alone onto the field and joined his company. 
And so the regiment stood. Under arms, listening to the 
isounds of the fight on the left and waiting patiently for 



FREDERICKSBURG. 61 

their turn to share in the strife, while General Thomas 
Francis Meagher, mounted and surrounded by his staff, 
addressed each regiment of his (the Irish) brigade in burn- 
ing, eloquent words besought the men to uphold in the 
coming struggle the military prestige and glory of their 
native land. 

Green box-wood was culled in a garden near-by and 
Meagher placed a sprig in his Irish cap. Every officer and 
man followed his example, and soon great bunches of the 
fragrant shrub adorned the caps of every one. Wreaths 
were made and hung upon the tattered flags, and the 
national color of the Emerald Isle blended in fair harmony 
with the red, white and blue of the Republic. 

At noon, Meade not having yet reached Hamilton's, 
General Couch ordered French and Hancock to the assault. 
French moved first, closely followed by "The Superb", 
As the troops wheeled into the streets leading towards the 
enemy they were in full view of the frowning heights and 
the march of death began, Nearly a mile away arose the 
position that the troops were expected to carry, and though 
not yet clear of the city they felt the pressure o^ the foe, 
the fire of whose batteries concentrated to crush the heads 
of the column as it debouched upon the plain. Solid shot, 
fired with light charges, ricochetted on the frozen ground, 
caromed on the pavement, and went tearing through the 
ranks, traversing the entire length of the streets and 
bounding over the river to be buried in the opposite bluff. 

To charge an enemy or enter a battle when one knows 
that there is no hope of success, requires courage of a 
higher order than when the soldier is sustained by the 
enthusiasm born of hope. 

It is recorded that a commander once gave to his sub- 
ordinate the order to " Go there and die " ! The reply 
was : " Yes, my General ". When the Union troops, 
debouching from the town, deployed upon the plain in 
front of Marye's Heights, every man in the ranks knew 
that it was not to fis^ht. It was to die. 



62 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

As they moved out Hanover Street, the city seemed so 
deserted, and in a manner quiet, the men spoke in low 
whispers and earnest tones. A lone, solitary pussy cat sat 
on a gate-post mewing dolefully. Shells began dropping 
with destructive effect. One striking in the Eighty- 
eighth New York placed eighteen men hors du combat. 
The men of the regiment will ever remember the first one 
that burst in the One Hundred and Sixteenth, severely 
wounding the gallant Colonel, and cutting off the head of 
Sergeant Marley and killing three others. The men were 
struck by the instantaneousness of the deaths. The col- 
umn had halted for a moment. 

A sharp report, a puff of smoke, and four men lay 
stark dead their faces calm, their eyes mild and life-like, 
lips unmoved, no sign of suffering or indication of pain. 

Sergeant Marley had not fallen but dropped upon his 
knees, his musket clasped in both hands and resting upon 
the ground. 

Out in the open fields in the rear of the town, the 
regiment still marching in column of fours — soon reaching 
the canal to find that the bridge on which it was to cross 
had been shot away, only the stringers remaining. Some 
of the men plunged into the ice-cold water, others stepped 
quickly over the few remaining planks of the broken 
bridge. The shells still fell and now the whistle of the 
minie was heard mingling with their scream. Lieutenant 
Robert Montgomery, of Company I, as he stepped on the 
broken timbers of the bridge, fell over into the stream 
mortally wounded. 

After crossing the stream a sharp rise in the groimd hid 
the regiment from the enemy and gave the men a chance 
to take breath and to dress the ranks and prepare the 
column of attack, which was led by brigade front. General 
Kimball's brigade in the lead, followed by those of Colonel 
J. W. Andrews and Colonel Palmer. Hancock's division 
came next, with the brigades of Zook, Meagher and 
^Caldwell in the order named. Here the thougfht occurred 



FREDERICKSBURG. 63 

^' How different is the real battle from that which one's 
imagination had pictured." After the readings of boy- 
hood, with heads filled with Napoleon and his marshals, 
and harrowing tales of gory fields of yore. With what 
realistic feeling one can see the wild confusion of the 
storm-swept field, charging cavalry, hurrying artillery, the 
riderless steeds madly rushing to and fro, their shrill 
neighing mingling with the groans, shrieks and screams 
of the wounded. 

Here there was no disorder. The men were calm, 
silent, cheerful. The commands of the officers, given in 
a quiet, subdued voice, were distinctly heard and calmly 
obeyed, and the regiments manoeuvered without a flaw. 

In this trying moment the guides were ordered out and 
the alignment made as perfect as on dress parade. The 
destruction of human beings is done with order and sys- 
tem. Yet is was terrible enough ; the very absence of 
confusion and excitement but added to the dreadful inten- 
sity of the horror. As for the screams and shrieks, no one 
ever heard anything of that kind, either on the field or in 
the hospitals. It may be that soldiers of other nations 
indulge in cries and yells. The men of the War of 1861, 
took their punishment without a complaint or murmur. 

Just before moving from this spot one of the young 
officers of the regiment, a brave boy from Chester County, 
Pennsylvania, lyieutenant Seneca G, Willauer, was badly 
torn by a shell which stripped the flesh from his thigh and 
left the bone, for four or five inches, white and bare. He 
approached the regimental commander and holding up the 
bleeding limb for inspection, said, with the most gentle 
manner and placid voice, " Colonel, do you think that I 
should go on with my company or go to the hospital ? " 
No doubt had he been told to go on with his company he 
would have done so. 

Then the advance was sounded. The order of the 
regimental commanders rang out clear on the cold 



64 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

December air, "Right shoulder, shift arms, battalion 
forward, guide centre, march". 

The long lines of bayonets glittered in the bright sun- 
light. No friendly fog hid the Union line from the foe, 
and as it advanced up the slope it came in full view of 
the Army of Northern Virginia. 

The noonday sun glittered and shone bright on the 
frozen ground and all their batteries opened upon 
the advancing lines. The line of the enemy could be 
traced by the fringe of blue smoke, that quickly appeared 
along the base of the hills. The men marched into an arc 
of fire. And what a reception awaited them. Fire in 
front, from the right and left. Shells came direct and 
oblique, and dropped down from above. Shells enfiladed 
the lines, burst in front, in rear, above and behind ; shells 
everywhere. A torrent of shells ; a blizzard of shot, shell 
and fire. 

The lines passed on steadily. The gaps made were 
quickly closed. The colors often kissed the ground, but 
were quickly snatched from dead hands and held aloft 
again by others, who soon in their turn bit the dust. The 
regimental commanders marched out far in advance of 
their commands and they too fell rapidly, but others ran 
to take their places. 

Officers and men fell in rapid succession. Lieutenant 
Garrett Nowlen, who had just taken Willauer's place in 
command of Company C, fell with a ball through the 
thigh. Major Bardwell fell badly wounded ; and a ball 
whistled through Lieutenant Bob McGuire's lungs. 

Lieutenant Christian Foltz felt dead, with a ball 
through his brain. The orderly sergeant of Company H 
wheeled around, gazed upon Lieutenant Ouinlan, and a 
great stream of blood poured from a hole in his forehead, 
splashing over the young officer, and the sergeant fell 
dead at his feet. 

Captain John O'Neill, Company K, was shot in the 
lungs, the ball passing completely through his body. 




LIEUTENANT CHRISTIAN FOLTZ. 
Killed at Fredericksburg, December 13th, i8( 



FREDERICKSBURG, 65 

But on, still onward, the line pressed steadily. The 
men dropping in twos, in threes, in groups. No cheers or 
wild hurrahs as they moved towards the foe. They were 
not there to fight, only to die. 

Onward, still forward, the line withering, diminishing, 
melting away, every man knowing the desperation of the 
undertaking, but no one faltering or turning back. Still 
in good order the One Hundred and Sixteenth pushed 
forward until five hundred yards of the long half mile that 
lay between it and Marye's Heights were passed with the 
sharp whiz of the minie joining the loud scream of the 
oblong bolts. Soon the men forgot the presence of the 
shells in the shower of smaller missiles that assailed them. 
The hills rained fire and the men advanced with heads 
bowed as when walking against a hailstorm. Still through 
the deadly shower the ever-thinning lines pressed on. 
The plain over which they had passed was thickly spotted 
with the men of the Second Corps, dead, in twos and 
threes and in groups. Regiments and companies had their 
third or fourth commander, and the colors were borne to 
the front by the third or fourth gallant soul who had raised 
them. The gaps in the lines liad become so large and so 
numerous that continued efforts had to be made to close 
them, and the command, "guide centre", was frequently 
heard. French neared the entrenchments of the Con- 
federates' first line, and the enemy redoubling their efforts, 
the storm rose to greater fury. The struggle was hopeless. 
The attacking line waved like corn in a hurricane, recoiled, 
then broke, and the shattered mass fell back amid the 
shouts and cheers of Cobb's and Kershaw's Confederate 
Brigades that lined the trenches in their front. Now 
Hancock, with the division that never lost a gun or a 
color, swept forward, and being joined by many of the 
gallant men of French's command, made the most heroic 
effort of the day. Passing the furthest point reached by 
the preceding troops, he impetuously rushed on, past the 
brick house so conspicuous on the field. On, on, until his 



66 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

flags waved within twenty-five paces of the fatal stone 
wall. Then with a ninrderons fire everywhere aronnd he 
realized the full absurdity of the attempt to accomplish an 
utter impossibility. His men had not yet fired a shot, 
and had only reached the spot where the work was to 
begin. Forty per cent, of the force had already fallen. 
No support within three-quarters of a mile. In front, line 
after line of works followed each other np the terraced 
heights to the very crest which was covered with artillery. 
To carry the assault further would be extreme madness. 
Even should the force take and occupy the first line it 
would simply be to meet the fire of the second and third. 
To fight the host in front was not possible. The men 
were here only to be shot down without being able to return 
the blow. The Irish Brigade had reached a point within 
thirty yards of the stone wall and began firing. All the 
field and staff officers of the regiment were wounded. 
The color sergeant, William H. Tyrrell, was down on one 
knee, (his other leg being shattered), but still waving the 
flag on the crest. Five balls struck him in succession; a 
dozen pierced the colors ; another broke the flag-staff, and 
the colors and the color sergeant fell together. The orders 
to retire passed down the line and the command began 
falling back. All the color guard was down, and the flag 
in the grasp of young Tyrrell was still on the fire-swept 
crest. It was soon missed, and that fearless soldier. Lieu- 
tenant Francis T. Quinlan, ran back to save it. A hundred 
fired at him, but quickly seizing the broken flag-staff he 
threw himself on the ground and, with the flag tightly 
clasped to his breast, rolled back to where the command 
had halted, a noble deed, well done. 

But Hancock would not be driven from the field, and 
halting where the formation of the ground afforded some 
shelter to his hard-tried command, he remained until 
relieved at nightfall and then withdrew to the town. It 
was a long, dreadful afternoon that awaited the thousands 
wounded, who lay scattered over the sad and ghastly plain. 



FREDERICKSBURG. 67 

The only place of cover was the brick house out near 
the stone wall. To this, hundreds of the wounded 
dragged themselves and a great mass of sufferers huddled 
together and struggled to get nearer the house that they 
might escape the fire. All around the great heaps of dead 
bore testimony to the fierceness of the combat. Near by, 
a color Sergeant lay, stark and cold, with the flag of his 
regiment covering him. Just in front of the stone wall 
lay a line of men of the Irish Brigade, with the green 
box-wood in their caps, and the two bodies nearest the 
enemy were those of Major William Horgan, and Adjutant 
John R. Young, both of the Eighty-eighth New York. 
It was not yet one o'clock when the assaulting column 
retired, and the wounded had nearly five hours to wait for 
darkness. 

The sharpshooters of the enemy soon got a position 
from which they could infilade the brick house, and when 
any one moved among the mass of bleeding men it was 
the signal for the rifle balls to whistle around. Few 
expected to live until night, and but few did. Keeping 
very quiet, hugging the ground closely, the stricken men 
talked together in low tones. The bullets kept whistling 
and dropping, and every few moments some one would 
cease talking never to speak again. Quietly they passed 
away from the crimson field to eternit)', their last gaze on 
their waving flag, the last sound to reach their ears the 
volleys of musketry and their comrades' cheers. 

What a cosmopolitan crowd these dead and wounded 
were — Americans from the Atlantic Coast and the Pacific 
States, from the praries, from the great valleys of the 
Mississippi and the Ohio ; Irishmen from the banks of the 
Shannon and Germans from the Rhine and the blue Danube; 
Frenchmen from the Seine and Italians from the classic 
Tiber mingled their blood and went down in death together 
that the cause and that the Union might live. Every 
little while other columns emerged from the city, deployed 
upon the plain, marched forward, but never got so far as 



68 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

the brick house. The appearance of these troops would 
draw the fire of the batteries on the hills and hundreds of 
deadly projectiles would go screaming over, and could be 
seen bursting in the midst of the advancing lines. Even- 
ing came at last ; the sun went down behind the terrible 
heights and the wounded anxiously watched the shadows 
lengthen and steal across the field of blood, creeping 
slowly over the plain, throw the houses of the city in the 
shade, then up the church tower until the only object that 
reflected the rays was the cross of burnished gold which 
sparkled a moment against the purple sky, and then the 
twilight deepened until it was difficult to discern objects. 
It was thought that the battle was ended, when, through 
the gathering darkness, loomed up the divisions of Hooker. 
Nobly they went to the work, with empty muskets and 
orders to carry the position with the bayonet. The dark 
mass passed the brick house and almost to the point that 
Hancock had reached. They had come in the gloaming 
unseen, and surged against the base of Marye's Heights. 
Again the hills flashed fire, shook, rocked, roared and 
belched forth more tons of iron on the red plain, more 
minutes of useless carnage. The sombre wave rolled 
back, the last and most absurd attempt of the disastrous 
day had come to naught and seventeen hundred more had 
been added to the pondrous list of casualities. Clouds 
over-shadowed the skies, and, guided by the lurid fires 
still smouldering through the ebony darkness, the immense 
crowd of wounded began crawling, struggling, dragging 
themselves towards the city, those who were slightly hurt 
assisting the others who were more seriously injured; 
those with shattered limbs using muskets for crutches, 
many fainting and falling by the way. And when in the 
town, how hard to find a spot to rest, or a surgeon to bind 
up the wounds. More wounded than the city had inhab- 
itants, every public hall and house filled to over-flow, the 
porches of the residences covered with bleeding men, the 
surgeons busy everywhere. In the lecture-room of the 



FREDERICKSBURG. 69 

Episcopal church eight operating tables were in full blast, 
the floor was densely packed with men whose limbs were 
crushed, fractured and torn. Lying there in deep pools of 
blood, they waited very patiently, almost cheerfully, their 
turn to be treated ; there was no grumbling, no screaming, 
hardly a moan ; many of the badly hurt were smiling and 
chatting, and one — who had both legs shot off — was 
cracking jokes with an officer who could not laugh at the 
humorous sallies, for his lower jaw was shot away. The 
cases here were nearly all capital, and amputation was 
almost always resorted to. Hands and feet, arms and legs 
were thrown under each table, and the sickening piles 
grew larger as the night progressed. The delicate limbs 
•of the drummer boy fell along with the rough hand of the 
veteran in years, but all, every one, was brave and 
cheerful. Towards morning the conversation flagged, 
many dropped off" to sleep before they could be attended to, 
and many of them never woke again. Finally the only 
sound heard was the crunching of the surgeons' saws and 
now and then the melancholy music of a random shell 
dismally wailing over-head. Few the prayers that were 
said, but the soft voice of a bo.yish soldier as he was lifted 
on the table, his limbs a mass of quivering, lacerated flesh, 
was heard as he quietly said " O my God, I offer all my 
sufferings in atonement for the sins by which I have 
crucified Thee". 

Outside, the members of the Christian Commission 
were hard at work relieving all within reach, and the 
stretcher carriers were hurrying the wounded from the 
field. A few chaplains were quietly moving among the 
suffering thousands, giving them comfort, and soothing 
their dying hour. Out on the railroad at Hamilton's 
lay the body of the fearless commander of the Third 
Brigade of the Pennsylvania Reserves, General C. Fager 
Jackson, and at the Bernard House, where he had been 
carried, died at midnight the youngest general officer, and 
one of the most beloved of all that fell, General George 



70 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

D. Bayard, of the cavalry. While conversing with some 
other officers early in the day a shell struck the group, 
passing through the overcoat of Captain H. G. Gibson, 
destroying his sabre. It crushed General Bayard's thighs 
and carried away a portion of his abdomen. He lived 
fourteen hours after being hit, and passed the time in 
quietly giving directions and in dictating letters to his 
friends. In one to Colonel Collum he said, " Give my 
love to General McClellan and say my only regret is that 
I did not die under his command." He was to have been 
married on the following Wednesday, and the bride 
awaited her cavalier who never came. Bayard^ sans peur 
et sans I'eproche J The losses in some of the commands 
were unusually severe. The Eleventh Pennsylvania 
Reserves lost six color bearers inside of a few moments, 
and Company C, Twelfth Reserves, lost forty of the forty- 
nine present. 

But the most appalling loss was in the division of 
General Hancock. Of the five officers composing his 
personal staff three were wounded and four horses were 
killed under them. The general himself was struck by a 
rifle-ball but not seriously hurt. Of the sixteen officers of 
the Sixty-ninth New York, every one was killed or 
wounded, and the regiment lost seventy-five per cent, of 
the enlisted men, and left the field with its fourth com- 
mander, three having been disabled. The Fifth New 
Hampshire lost seventeen out of twenty-three officers, and 
had five commanding officers during the fight. The One 
Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volun- 
teers had all the field and staff and many of the line officers 
killed or wounded, and was taken off the field by the 
fourth officer in command during the fight. The Eighty- 
first Pennsylvania lost twelve out of sixteen officers and 
seventy-five per cent, of the enlisted men. The fourth 
commanding officer brought the regiment off the field. 
The Fifty-seventh New York lost nine out of the eleven 
officers present. The Sixty-sixth New York had four 



FREDERICKSBURG. 71 

commanders during the battle, the three first having been 
killed or wounded. Many other regiments of the division 
suffered almost as severely, yet, on the morning of the 
following day, notwithstanding the great loss, when 
ordered to support the Ninth Corps, the command fell in, 
ready and willing, to join in the contemplated assault with 
the Ninth Corps, led by General Burnside in person — from 
which he was happily dissuaded by Generals Sumner and 
Hooker at the moment that all was ready to make the 
attack. During the fourteenth, the regiment rested in the 
streets of the city. Sergeant Abraham Detwiler, of 
Company C, begged to be allowed to carry the colors and 
he was accorded the honor. Well did he fill the position, 
and bore the flag during the Chancellorsville and Gettys- 
burg campaigns until he was promoted lieutenant of his 
company. Lieutenant Edmund Randall was conspicuous 
in his efforts to rescue the wounded and get them over the 
river to a place of safety. He did noble work, and burst- 
ing shell and falling walls had no terrors for him where a 
man of the regiment could be saved. During the battle 
the regiment held the left flank of the Irish Brigade. 
The regiment and the Irish Brigade reached a point with- 
in thirty yards of the stone wall, and the bodies that lay 
nearest the enemy's line were those of the regiment and 
Brigade and, by actual measurement, within twenty- 
five paces of the Washington Artillery (Confederate). 
Lieutenant William E. Owens, of that famous corps, in 
his history of the Washington Artillery tells us, " That a 
soldier of the Irish Brigade was the nearest body to the 
stone wall and, by actual measurement, it lay within 
twenty-five feet of the wall." A British line officer, writ- 
ing on the campaign of Fredericksburg (published by 
Keegan & Co., London), writes in laudation of the foreign- 
born soldier in America during the great Civil war. We 
quote his account of the attack of the Irish Brigade on 
December 13th, 1862: "Fifteen minutes passed and 
another division, Hancock's five thousand strong, rushed 



72 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

forward from the town. Zook's brigade led the wa)', but 
quickly recoiled, beaten back by that terrible artillery. 
Not so its successor. Under cover of the further bank of 
the ravine, the Irish Brigade composed of the Twenty- 
eighth Massachusetts, the Sixty-third, Sixty-ninth and 
Bighty-eighth New York, and the One Hundred and 
Sixteenth Pennsylvania, under General Meagher, threw" 
off their haversacks and blankets and deployed into line. 
Resolutely they breasted the slope and faced the death- 
dealing storm ; swiftly they passed the limit marked by 
three solitary colors, and shoulder to shoulder, their own 
green flag and the blue and scarlet of the Union standard 
waving above them, swept forward against the low wall 
which skirts the base of Marye's Hill. 

So determined was their advance that Colonel Miller, 
commanding the Confederate Brigade confronting them — 
for General Cobb had already fallen — ordered his men to 
hold their fire for a space. And now occurred a strange 
and pathetic incident. Though high was the courage of 
that thin line which charged so boldly across the shot- 
swept plain, 'opposed to it were men as fearless and 
staunch; behind that rude stone breast-work were "bone 
of their bone, and flesh of their flesh"— the soldiers of 
Cobb's Brigade were Irish like themselves. On the morn- 
ing of the battle General Meagher had bade his men to 
deck their caps with sprigs of evergreen, "to remind 
them," he said, "of the land of their birth." The symbol 
was recognized by their countrymen, and " Oh, God, what 
a pity ! Here comes Meagher's fellows " ! was the cry in 
the Confederate ranks. One hundred and fifty paces from 
the hill the brigade halted and fired a volley, while the 
round shot tore fiercely through the well ordered line. 
Still no sign from the wall, looming grim and silent 
through the battle- smoke ; and again the battalions moved 
swiftly forward. They were but a hundred yards from 
their goal, unbroken and unfaltering still, they had 
reached a point where Walton's gunners, unable to depress 




LIEUTENANT ROBERT T. McGUIRE. 
Died at close of War, of wounds received at Battle of Fredericksburg. 



FREDERICKvSBURG. 73 

their pieces further, could no longer harass them. Victory 
seemed within their grasp, and a shout went up from the 
shattered ranks. Sudden h' a sheet of flame leaped from 
the parapet, and 1,200 rifles, plied by cool and unshaken 
men, concentrated a murderous fire upon the advancing 
line. To their glory, be it told, though scores were swept 
away, falling in their tracks like corn before the sickle, 
the ever-thinning ranks dashed on. 

" The charging blood in their up-turned faces 
And the living fill the dead men's places '". 

But before that threatening onset the Confederate 
veterans never quailed ; voile}' on volley sped with deadly 
precision, and at so short a range every bullet found its 
mark. For a while the stormers struggled on, desperate 
and defiant ; but no mortal man could long face that 
terrible fire, scathing and irresistible as the lightning, and 
at length the broken files ga\'e ground. Slowh" and 
sullenly they fell back ; fell back to fight no more that 
day, for beneath the smoke-cloud tliat rolled about Marye's 
Hill the Irish Brigade had ceased to exist. Forty yards 
from the wall where the charge was stayed, the dead and 
dying lay piled in heaps, and one body, supposed to be 
that of an ofiicer, was found within fifteen yards of the 
parapet. The Adjutant-General of Hancock's division, 
who witnessed the attack from the town, said that at the 
time he could not understand what had happened ; the 
men fell in such regular lines that he thought they were 
lying down to allow the storm of shot to pass over them. 
General Ransom, commanding one of the divisions which 
held Marye's Hill, reported that this assault was made 
" with the utmost determination ", and the eloquent words 
of the London Times special correspondent, who was 
present with the Confederates, record the admiration of 
those who beheld that splendid charge. ' Never wrote he, 
at Fontenoy, Albuera or Waterloo, was more undaunted 
courage displayed by the sons of Erin ; The bodies which 



74 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

lie ill dense masses within fifty yards of the muzzles of 
Colonel Walton's guns are the best evidence what manner 
of men they were who pressed on to death with the daunt- 
lessness of a race which has gained glory on a thousand 
battle fields, and never more richly deserved it than at the 
foot of Marye's Hill, on December 13th, 1862 ' ". During 
Sunday, the day after the battle, no assistance could be 
given to the wounded who lay in great numbers out on 
the plain, but after dark on Sunday evening, many of the 
men made heroic efforts to bring them in, although the 
enemy were vigilant and fired at every object seen moving 
against the sky. Sergeant Sheridan, of Company G, 
Eighty-eighth New York, lay far out on the field with a 
fractured leg, and four of his comrades determined to go to 
his relief. Working themselves out on their stomachs, 
they succeeded in reaching him, but found him very low. 
As he had a compound fracture of the leg, it seemed 
impossible to move him, his agony was so great. The 
men dared -not stand up, and were at their wits' ends to 
know what to do, when Sergeant Slattery came to the 
rescue. Said he, " Begob, boys did yez ever see rats trying 
to get away with a goose egg ? One rat lies down, the 
others roll the egg on top av him, he holds it in place wid 
his four paws, and then they pull him off by the tail. 
Now I will lie down on my back, you lift Sheridan on top 
av me and I will do my best to kape his leg even ". The 
suggestion was adopted. The men would push themselves 
on a couple of feet, then pull Slattery, with his precious 
load, up to them, and so on until, before daylight, they all 
reached the city and had Sheridan attended to, and his leg 
amputated ; too late, however, to save the poor fellow's 
life. He died from exhaustion. The clothes were liter- 
ally ground off Sergeant Slattery's back, and his cuticle 
so sore that he was unable to do duty for a week after- 
wards. 

A gallant soldier of Company B, John Dempsey had 
almost as rough an experience as Sheridan. His leg was 



FREDERICKSBURG. 75 

fearfully shattered and he fell far out on the field by the 
stone wall. Feeling that lie would die if he remained on 
the field he threw the crushed leg over the good one and 
then dragged himself on his stomach for nearly a mile 
until he reached the town. Some stretcher bearers found 
him in the evening and carried him over the river, but the 
surgeons were busy and he did not have the limb ampu- 
tated until after four days, but he lived and got well. 

On every battlefield there are amusing incidents, and 
Fredericksburg furnished its share. As the One Hundred 
and Sixteenth regiment was advancing on Marye's Heights 
under a heavy fire, two Irishmen in Company H, began to 
quarrel. One had pushed the other a little and, whilst 
they still kept their places in line, belabored each other 
with their tongues. "Wait till Oi get upon top av the 
hill", said Dempsey, "and Oi'll knock you down wid 
me potstick " ! (meaning his musket). " Bad luck to ye, 
Oi'll poke me bayonet down yer troat " ! And so they 
kept on until they reached the crest, where both were 
killed. Some one asked Captain O'Neill where he was hit. 
" I'm wounded all over ", replied the gallant Captain ; and 
when one thinks for a moment of a ball smashing a 
fellow's ribs, passing through his lungs and whistling out 
somewhere in the vicinity of his backbone, it seems but 
natural that he should feel " wounded all over ". 

Tlie day of the 14th passed without a renewal of the 
contest, but was made remarkable by an episode very 
unusual on such occasions. The flags of the regiments of 
the Irish Brigade had been torn to ribbons during the 
many contests in which it had participated, and the citizens 
of New York had procured others to present in their place. 
The standards arrived during the battle, and with them 
came a committee, who brought a very generous supply 
of the good things of earth wherewith to celebrate the 
presentation, and a banquet was determined upon. A 
concert hall in one of the upper streets was selected for 
the feast. Here the tables were spread and decorations 



76 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

improvised. Invitations were sent out, and at noon two 
or three hundred officers assembled to do honor to the 
event and toast the new banners. For two or three hours 
the hall teemed with wine and rang with wit and eloquence, 
and the flags were baptized amid speeches by Generals 
Couch, Hancock, Sturgis, Meagher, and many other 
distinguished and gallant officers. The enjoyment and 
festivities ran high, the enthusiasm was great, but the loud 
cheers drew the fire of the Southern batteries, and the 
enemy, envying perhaps the good time our friends were 
having, sent their compliments in the shape of shells, one 
of which, passing through the ceiling of the room, knocked 
the plaster down among the viands, and was suggestive 
of an early adjournment ; so the company separated with 
rather unceremonious leave-taking — not on account of 
the shell, certainly not ! but as some of the gentlemen 
remarked: " it being Sunday, they thought it well to close 
the feast a little early that they might attend Divine 
service ". During the night of this day and on Monday, 
the 15th, the troops lay on their arms waiting the next 
event. After dark a rumor spread that the army was to 
move to the left and strike the enemy again the following 
morning, but soon the columns began marching over the 
river and through the storm and gloom back to their 
camps. Shortly after daylight, on the i6th, the last 
regiment, the Sixty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, filed 
across the pontoons. With sturdy blows the pontoniers 
severed on the city side the lashings of the bridge which 
swung around with the current of the stream, landing on 
the other shore, leaving to the mercy of God and the 
enemy, the killed and many of the wounded of the gallant 
army. The battle was over ; the result, a graveyard. 

Save one regimental flag, no trophies of the fight 
remained. Yet the field was redolent with acts of noble 
daring. The troops that marched on Marye's Heights 
more than equalled, in the grandeur of their bravery, the 
gallant six hundred immortalized by the poet laureate. 



FREDERICKSBURG. 77 

while by their sacrifice, though they did not gain a victory, 
they raised a monument more enduring than marble or 
brass to the valor and heroism of our times and our people; 
and in other ages, when the memories of the contest will 
have been mellowed by the lapse of centuries, in the blood- 
shed, will be seen a holocaust at the altar of freedom in 
the smoke of the battle, sweet incense at the shrine of 
human liberty. The Union troops failed — so did Leonidas 
of Sparta, yet what son of Hellas but shares even to this 
day in the glory of old Thermopylae, and what American 
even to the most remote period of the future but will share 
in the glories that cluster around the plain of Fredericks- 
burg? Those fields, resplendent with the great deeds of 
our people, where the verdure and every blooming flower 
is nurtured and enriched by martyr blood, will ever be 
hallowed places in the land, around which will crystallize 
the warm, full gratitude of a nation saved. 



THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 



CHAPTER III. 

AFTER FREDERICKSBURG. 

TT7HEN the battle was over and the troops once more 
^ on the North side of the Rappahannock, each com- 
mand quietly marched back to the camp-ground that had 
been vacated a few days before. Fortunately, nearly all the 
wounded of the One Hundred and Sixteenth were brought 
over the river before the evacuation of the town, but 
their sufferings were intolerable. A cold dismal rain 
fell on the men as they lay on the wet ground, but as 
quickly as possible they were moved off to temporary 
hospitals and cared for. Orders to build winter quarters 
were issued, and soon the men were slashing trees and 
erecting huts in which to pass the winter. Four or five 
logs cut the proper length, were piled one on the other, the 
intersections filled with mud, and over all a shelter tent 
spread for a roof. A fire place was made at one end, and a 
chimney constructed of sticks and mud— a chimney, by the 
way, which frequentl}' caught fire and threatened to burn 
up the household. In these dwellings, arranged in streets 
and forming regimental camps, the great army spent the 
winter. Immense camp fires blazed. Wood, for the time, 
was plenty, and when the building of the huts was finished, 
many an evening was spent by the men sitting in long 
lines, enjoying the heat and light, and chatting of the 
fight, recalling scenes in the city of Fredericksburg and 
the field beyond. There were plenty of incidents to fill the 
long evenings with interesting talk. Every comrade who 



AFTER FREDERICKSBURG. 79 

liad fallen was reiueiiibered, and each one's lovable charac- 
teristics recalled, nor were the wounded forgotten. 

Not only were the dead and wounded comrades in arms, 
but, in many instances, they were near relatives. Allen 
Landis of Company C, mourned tor his brother, Aaron J. 
Landis, of the same company, who fell by the stone wall ; 
and Lieutenant Willauer, also of Company C, was sent 
home terribly wounded to carry to his aged parents the 
sad news of his younger brother's death. Corporal Samuel 
Willauer. First Sergeant Richard Ker, of Company D, 
left his brother. Sergeant Andrew E. Ker, dead on the field, 
shot through the head before he was seventeen years of 
age. And these were not the only members of this family 
who served their country as .soldiers. Another brother, 
William W. Ker, was a gallant Captain in the Seventy- 
third Pennsylvania Infantry ; and, still another, George J. 
Ker, served until the end of the war in the Fifth Pennsyl- 
vania Cavalry, coming out as a full Captain and Brevet- 
Major, only to die of his wounds. Then there were 
Alexander and Daniel Chisholm, brothers, in Company K, 
the only pair of brothers who got through without a 
scratch ; and Colonel MulhoUand and his brother, Captain 
Charles Cosslett, of Company E. Sergeants Jacob and 
Jefferson Carl, of Company C, were brothers, and two 
other brothers of the Carl boys, Henry and William, were 
enlisted in other regiments. Captain Henry D. Price, 
Company C, who was killed in front of Petersburgh, had a 
brother, Abraham D. Price a Major in the Sixth Cavalry, 
and another brother, Joseph D. Price, was a Lieutenant in 
the same regiment, while Sergeant Elhannan W. Price, 
who was killed at Fredericksburg, was a full cousin to 
Captain Henry D. Price. James Collins, of Company K. 
had a brother an Adjutant of the One Hundred and Forty- 
second Pennsylvania Volunteers who was killed on the 
second day at the Wilderness. Jim learned of George's 
death next morning, but never asked an hour off duty in 
consequence. He marched along in silence for some days, 



80 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

but fought nobly to avenge his brother's fall. 

The brother of Captain Lawrence Kelly of Company 
G, was killed by his side ; and Lieutenant Kite, of Com- 
pany F, had his son a private in his company. Henry and 
George Wilt, of Company C, were brothers ; and also, 
Thomas and Robert Scarlett, of Company A. Also, 
Daniel and William Price, of Company B. 

In Company G, there was a young boy named H. M. 
Seitzinger who, at Cold Harbor, when Color Sergeant T. 
A. Sloan was shot, riished forward, seized the flag, and 
waving it over his head led the charge, calling to his father, 
James M. Seitzinger: "Go in Pop, I'm coming". 

There were numbers of others in the regiment, but it 
Avas not exceptional. Whole families went to the war ; 
some returned and others fell, in many instances all were 
killed. In a quiet spot in ^Massachusetts there are five 
brothers sleeping side by side, the youngest seventeen, the 
eldest, twenty-eight, and all fell within a few months of 
each other. 

In Lycoming County, in our State, there are five noble 
boys named Rankin, side by side, all killed in battle. 

Lieutenant Willauer's brother died a very heroic death. 
He was first shot through the hand, then through the 
body, the ball passing near the heart, then both feet were 
cut off" by a shell ; he was still living, when, after dark, 
the stretcher-carriers took him from the field to the hospital 
where he died during the night. He was aged just twenty 
vears and one month. 

Lieutenant Robert B. ^Montgomery, who was killed in 
battle, was a very noble gentleman, of an amiable and 
gentle disposition, a man whom every one loved, and who 
was ever ready to sacrifice himself for the good of the 
service. He lived for some days after being wounded, the 
ball still lodged in his body, and died resigned, saintly and 
heroic. His body was sent home to Philadelphia, and 
buried in Machpelah Cemetery, corner Tenth and Wash- 
ington Avenue. The funeral was on Sunday afternoon, 




LIEUTENANT ROBERT 1!. MONTGOMERY. 
Killed at Fredericksburg, December 13th, 1862. 



AFTER FREDERICKSBURG. 81 

December 28tli and tens of thousands of citizens lined the 
streets as the cortege passed. He was buried with full 
military honors. 

The following is from the Philadelphia Inquirer of 
Monday, December 29th, 1862 : 

THE FUNERAL OF LIEUTENANT ROBERT B. MONTGOMERY. 

"The body of Lieutenant Robert B. Montgomery, 
formerly of Colonel Heenan's One Hundred and Sixteenth 
Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, was interred yesterday 
afternoon, about four o'clock, at Machpelah Cemetery, 
Tenth Street and Washington Avenue. 

The Lieutenant died on the 14th inst., at the Patent 
Office Hospital, Washington, D. C. , of wounds received at 
the battle of Fredericksburg. He was in the thirty-fourth 
year of his age. His remains were brought from Washing- 
ton at the expense of his former fellow workmen in the Navy 
Yard. A large military escort was in attendance, including 
a portion of the Thirtieth Massachusetts and Arsenal 
Guards and Captain Rockafeilow, together with the mem- 
bers of the Hope Hose and Steam Fire Engine Company, 
a number of the workmen of the Navy Yard, and a 
detachment of the police force of the Third Division. 

The funeral took place from the residence of Mr. John 
Paul, No. 228 Saratoga Street. Dr. Brainerd, of whose 
church he was formerly a member, officiated. His remarks 
over the grave of the deceased soldier were very impressive. 
' Of the evils of war in general,' the doctor said, ' they are 
legion, and only to be tolerated now in order to avoid the 
worse evils of universal anarch}- and international strife 
and bloodshed likely to follow the breaking up of a great 
nation. We suffer war as a choice of great evils. War 
cannot last always. Over the graves of our country's 
martyrs we can say that the cause ennobles the victim. A 
life sold, not lost.' Of the battle of Fredericksburg, 
Doctor Brainerd said : ' It was a fearful time and disas- 
trous to thousands. Other generations will shudder at its 



82 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

details. It unfolds to us the strength of that treason which 
we have to combat. It develops a love of country seldom 
surpassed. It has disciplined a great army to appalling 
dangers and linked thousands of bleeding hearts more closely 
to the cause of freedom. It has created in all Christian 
lands, among true men, a deeper loathing of the treason 
which has shed this blood, and a deeper abhorrence of the 
Northern semi-traitors who aided the rebellion. It will tend 
to lift from the high places the mean, the mercenary and 
the craven-hearted, and give prominence in the cabinet and 
field to men willing to suffer and die for their country. ' 

Of Lieutenant Montgomery the doctor said : ' He was 
a young man of excellent character and noble impulse. A 
native of Virginia, with his property and all his relatives 
there, he was like Abdiah, " faithful among the faithless 
found." He preferred his whole country to the State of 
his birth. On the battlefield he fought bravely, and fell. 
He was a true man, a citizen and a patriot.' 

After the closing of the remarks by the reverend doctor, 
the usual honor was paid to his memory by the military, 
and the multitude in the vicinity slowly and quietly 
dispersed. 

Thirty-two years after a little group gathered once 
more around the grave of the beloved Lieutenant and the 
remains being raised and fully identified, were with tender 
care taken to the National Cemetery at Germantown. 
The same paper of February 3d, 1895, finishes the story 
began more than a quarter of a century before. 

veterans' TRIBUTE TO A DEAD HERO. 

THE REMAINS OF LIEUTENANT MONTGOMERY WII,!. BE TAKEN OUT TO 
GERMANTOWN — A ROMANCE OF THE WAR — GENERAL MULHOLLAND, 
DEPARTMENT COMMANDER EMSLEY AND COLONEL EDMUND RAN- . 
DALL SEE THAT A COMRADE WHO DIED IN BATTLE IS GIVEN 
FITTING RESTING PLACE — FOUR HUNDRED MORE BODIES WILL 
FOLLOW. 

Three honored veterans stood around in the snow 
storm in Machpelah Cemetery yesterday morning and 



AFTER FREDERICKSBURG. 83 

watched while the remains of a one-time comrade, who 
had died under their eyes in battle, were lifted up and 
made ready for shipment to the Soldiers' Cemetery at 
Germantown. 

Around the event is a most interesting story. The 
dead man was Lieutenant Robert B. Montgomery, of 
Company I, One Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania 
Volunteers, of which General Mulholland, now Pension 
Agent, was then lieutenant-colonel. In marching out of 
the city the Colonel was wounded and Mulholland took 
active command. When the regiment went gallantly into 
the battle of Fredericksburg on December 13th, 1862, 
Lieutenant Montgomery received his death wound. 

The ball, which entered his groin, and crushed his 
bones in a terrible manner, struck him as he was leading 
a charge across a frail bridge over the canal. As he was 
hit he toppled over into the water. His comrades pulled 
him out and he was sent to a hospital, where he died a 
few days later. 

BURIED WITH HONORS. 

General Mulholland was wounded soon after and was 
at his home in this city when the body of Lieutenant 
Montgomery was sent on here for burial. The funeral was 
held on Sunday, December 28th, 1862. On the occasion 
the crowds on the streets were immense. The young 
Lieutenant was interred with full military honors, Captain 
Rockafellow's command firing the salute. 

Lieutenant Montgomery had few friends here, as he 
was a Virginian by birth, and at one time a slave-holder. 
On the outbreak of the war, however, he had abandoned 
everything and joined the Union army. He had several 
brothers in the Confederate army. 

When the removal of the bodies from Machpelah 
Cemetery was begun General Mulholland thought of these 
events of thirty years ago, and determined to see that the 
body of the brave soldier was fittingly cared for. He 



84 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

hunted up the records of the cemetery, but in them he 
could not find any trace of the Lieutenant's interment. 
But the General protested that the body was there, and 
went on to point out the grave. The owner of the lot was 
hunted up and the General's memory was found to be 
correct. 

THE REMAINS IDENTIFIED. 

Yesterday, in company with Department Commander 
Emsley, who was also in the One Hundred and Sixteenth, 
and Colonel Edmund Randall, General MulhoUand, went 
down to see the coffin opened, and the remains made ready 
for shipment. The coffin was found in good condition, 
and the skull and clothing were well enough preserved to 
make identification positive. The army buttons were 
taken from the coat and preserved by Colonel Randall. 
The remains will be buried with honors in the National 
Cemetery. 

The bodies of four hundred other soldiers rest in 
Machpelah Cemetery. Many of their graves are marked 
with government tombstones. Through the agency of 
General MulhoUand these will all be taken to the National 
Cemetery at Germantown for interment". 

Lieutenant Christian Foltz was killed instantly, being 
shot through the head ; his body was left on the field, and 
buried, after the fight, in front of the stone wall. He 
came from near Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, was of 
German descent, a brave, unassuming, Christian soldier, 
and though a man advanced in years, he was as full of 
patriotic feeling, and ever as ready to share in the hard- 
ships and dangers as the youngest. 

Many of the officers wounded in the battle never 
returned. Colonel Dennis Heenan suffered severely for 
months and finally lost the use of his right hand. Major 
George H. Bardwell also lost the use of his right hand, the 
ball having broken every bone. He was afterwards bre- 
veted lieutenant-colonel for his gallantry on the occasion. 



AFTER FREDERICKSBURG. 85 

Captain O'Neill was shot through the right lung, the ball 
making a terrible wound from which he never fully 
recovered, and finally caused his death. He was a veteran, 
having serv^ed some eight years in the regular army before 
joining the regiment ; the wound received at Fredericks- 
burg was his third. Lieutenant Robert T. McGuire was 
also shot through the lungs, and in the thigh, and died of 
the wounds shorth' after the close of the war. He was a 
brave and most lovable officer. He was born in Philadel- 
phia of Irish parents, and educated in the public schools of 
that city. 

A few da}-s after the battle, the thanks of the President 
was read to the regiments on "dress parade," and received 
by all with evident pleasure : 

Executive Mansion, 

Washington, December 22d, 1862, 
To the Army of the Potomac : 

I have just read your Commanding General's report of the battle 
of Fredericksburg. 

Although you were not successful, the attempt was not an error, 
nor the failure other than an accident. The courage with which you in 
an open field maintained the contest against an entrenched foe, and the 
consummate skill and success with which you crossed and re-crossed the 
river in the face of the enemy, show that you possess all the qualities 
of a great army, which will yet give victorj' to the cause of the country 
and of the popular government. 

Condoling with the mourners of the dead, and sympathizing with 
the severely wounded, I congratulate you that the number of both is 
comparatively so small. I tender you, officers and soldiers, the thanks 
of the nation. Abraham Lincoln. 

The winter of 1862 and 1863 seemed long to the men in 
camp on the Rappahannock. The cold was not intense, 
but the atmosphere damp and penetrating. The ground 
became frozen and sodden by turns, and when a few warm 
days would come and draw the frost out of the earth, the 
mud would become so deep that moving around was 
impossible. There was little chance for drill, and the 
days and nights in camp seemed very long. Ofttimes 



86 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

the doctor's call in the morning would be the only sound 
to disturb the camp. The guard would be changed with- 
out music, and the picket detail formed and marched off in 
the rain or snow in grim silence. During the winter the 
picket duty was extremely severe, and the detail large. 
The men of the regiment had to march three miles to the 
picket line which ran along the north bank of the Rappa- 
hannock, near the old town of Falmouth. Most of the 
march was through slush and mud, and by the time the 
detail reached the ground every one was wet and chilled, 
and in that condition began the turn of duty. No fires 
were allowed on the line, and frequently none on the 
reserve. After standing the two hours on the river bank, 
shivering in the wintry blast, or with the back to a blind- 
ing snow-storm, the men found scanty comfort when on 
the reserve. How cheerful and cosy the little hut seemed 
when, after the turn of duty on picket, they returned to 
camp ! But the picket line, although so cold and trying, 
was not without its attractions. The river was narrow 
enough to permit the men of each army to see the other 
and often converse. Little or no firing was indulged in, 
and the men of both sides stood in full view of each other. 
Of course, diiring the darkness of night every one was 
vigilant and watchful, but during the day there was 
nothing to do but stand and let the hours go by. Contra- 
band trading was carried on to a very great extent after 
dark, the men wading the river where fordable, and the Con- 
federates visiting in return. Union coffee for Confederate 
tobacco constituted the principal commercial transactions. 
No harm resulted from the trade, and the officers, when 
patroling the line, would manage to look some other way, 
and fail to observe any visitors from the other side of the 
river who might happen to be among the Union men. 
Had they recognized the Confederate they would have 
been compelled to arrest him, but it was difficult to 
distinguish colors after nightfall, it being so very dark and 
the blue and the gray were so much alike. It was just 



AFTER FREDERICKSBURG. 87 

the same on the other side. The officers and men acted 
honorably, and not one of the boys who crossed the river 
with his little bag of coffee was ever detained. 

The regimental chaplain, Reverend Edward McKee, 
resigned December 24th. He had proven himself a brave 
and fearless officer, but his health gave way nnder the 
hardships of campaigning and he was compelled to return 
to private life. 

Christmas Day, 1862, was celebrated in the camp; 
many boxes of good things from home were received, and 
shared by the recipients with comrades less fortunate. 
Some of the boys were a little homesick, to be sure, but 
enough were sufficiently light of heart to drive dull care 
awa>'. A large Christmas tree was erected in the centre of 
the camp., and peals of laughter and much merriment 
greeted the unique decorations, tin cups, hard tack, pieces 
of pork and other odd articles being hung on the branches. 
At night the camp fire roared and blazed, the stars shone 
above the tall pines, the canteen was passed around, and 
care banished for the hour. It must have been a sad 
Christmas, however, to those at home whose friends had 
fallen by Marye's Heights and Hamilton's Woods. New 
Year's Day came and passed, and on January i6th an order 
was received to prepare for another march, the celebrated 
movement known in history as the "Mud Campaign." 
It was the last effiDrt of General Burnside to justify himself 
and give battle to the enemy, but nature and the elements 
protested. On the twentieth the army broke camp and 
moved, or rather tried to move, but the downpour of rain 
upon the soaked earth was so copious and incessant, and 
the mud so deep that no movement was possible. No 
sooner had they left their different camps than men, trains 
and artillery became stalled in the mire, and it became a 
question of getting them extricated and back to their 
quarters, rather than one of striking the enemy. The 
members of the One Hundred and Sixteenth never left the 
camp ground during this period, as it was intended that 



88 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

the Second Corps should be the last to move. And the 
men found great consolation in the fact, especially when 
they saw the condition of the bedraggled infantry and 
mud- covered artillery, that was sunk hub-deep in the sea 
of liquid clay that was once a road. January 26th, that 
splendid old soldier, General Edwin V. Sumner, retired 
from command of the Right Grand Division, bade the 
army farewell, and shortly afterwards died. It is told of 
Sumner that, at Antietam, he was sending his son on an 
errand of great danger, and after giving him the order, the 
young man was about to gallop off when the general 
called him back and kissed him ; then said, " Go on, my 
boy." January 26th, 1863, the regiment was consolidated 
with a battalion of four companies, and the following 
officers retained in command : 

Major commanding — St. Clair A. MulhoUand. 

Adjutant — Lieutenant Garrett Nowlen. 

Quartermaster — Lieutenant Richard Wade. 

Surgeon — William B. Hartman. 

Sergeant Major — George Roeder. 

Quartermaster Sergeant — George McMahon. 

Company A — Captain, Seneca G. Willauer ; first lieu- 
tenant, William M. Hobart ; second lieutenant, George 
Halpin. 

Company B — Captain, Francis T. Quinlan ; first lieu- 
tenant, Francis E. Crawford ; second lieutenant, Thomas 
A. Dorwart. 

Company C — Captain, John Teed ; first lieutenant, 
Henry D. Price; second lieutenant, William H. Tyrrell; 

Company D — Captain, William A. Peet; first lieutenant, 
Jacob R. Moore ; second lieutenant, Louis J. Sacriste. 

The consolidation of the regiment became necessary 
because of the fact that the command had not been 
recruited to the maximum strength at the beginning, and 
had lost heavily b)' death, sickness and detail. It was 
understood, however, that six new companies should be 




MAJOR-GENERAL EDWIN V. SUMNER. 
Commanded Second Corps, March 13th to October 9th, 1862. 



AFTER FREDERICKSBURG. 89 

added to the command as soon as practicable. This was 
not effected until a year after the consolidation, and the 
command fought as a " battalion " at Chancellorsville, 
Gettysburg, Mine Run and Bristow Station. The super- 
numerary officers were honorably discharged, some entering 
the service again in other commands. Lieutenant-Colonel 
Mulholland was compelled to lose the rank of lieutenant- 
colonel and accept that of major, knowing that it would 
be but for a short time, or until the new companies were 
organized. Lieutenant Edmund Randall was one of the 
officers retained, but he tendered his resignation, and in 
April, Captain Francis T. Quinlan did likewise. These 
two young, brave and talented officers left the regiment, 
and their going was much regretted b^' the commanding 
officer and all their comrades. The}- were promising- 
officers and had a brilliant future before them. 

Shortly after the failure of the ludicrous fiasco, the 
*'Mud Campaign", General Joseph Hooker succeeded 
General Burnsidein command of the army of the Potomac, 
and the change for the time had a most happ}' effect. New 
life seemed to be given to every organization, and fresh 
vitalit}- to every department. Man\- changes took place in 
the organization and personnel of the arm\-. The grand 
division idea was definiteh- abandoned, and the corps-mark, 
or badge, was adopted. This feature consisted of a distinct 
emblem b}- which the division and corps to which every 
man belonged could be recognized. The emblem was 
worn on the cap, and the corps was designated by the 
emblem itself, and the division b)- the color. Red, white, 
and blue indicated the first, second and third divisions. 
The badge of the Second Corps was the trefoil or clover- 
leaf, and as the One Hundred and Sixteenth belonged to 
the First Division the badge of the regiment was red. 
The "corps badges", worn on the cap, became very dear 
to the troops, a source of pride and an incentive to emula- 
tion. They proved to be of great convenience to all, 
enabling every one to identif}- corps and divisions on the 



90 THE STORY OF THR ii6th REGIMENT. 

march or on line of battle witliont inqniry. The men of 
the Irish Brig^ade added to the red clover leaf an emblem 
of the same form, though of a different color — a small, 
green shamrock, this denoting the brigade organization as 
well as the division and corps. 

February 28th Captain Peet resigned and Lieutenant 
Nowlen was soon after promoted to Captain of Company 
D, and Lieutenant Sacriste became Adjutant. 

During February, March and April of this }'ear, 1863, 
camp fever was prevalent, and many deaths occurred in 
the arm^', but the regiment was remarkably fortunate in 
the small number of cases of sickness and the very few 
fatalities. Every moment of fair weather was taken 
advantage of to drill and discipline the command, and at 
no time before or afterwards did the regiment attain such 
such perfection in all that pertains to the movements as a 
body under arms, or develop such a degree of excellent 
discipline of the individual soldier. Not only did the 
battalion gain unstinted praise on brigade, division and 
corps drills and reviews, but every man seemed to vie with 
each other in trying to outdo his comrade in personal 
appearance and soldierly accomplishments. The " re- 
views ", "dress parades" and "guard mounts", and other 
occasions of ceremony were all admirable, and the rigid 
inspections told well for the personnel of every one. Every 
man was clean and neat, beyond anything that could be 
expected under the circumstances. Private Jacob Lntz, 
Company B ", was awarded the credit of having the clean- 
est musket. Lutz, in fact, was a crank on the subject of 
cleanliness. His musket, however, was his especial pride 
and constant care. The boys used to say that he would 
sleep without cover on a wet night in order that he might 
wrap the piece in his blanket, and thus shelter it from the 
dampness. 

On the morning after the battle, Sergeant Abraham L. 
Detweiler Company C, was promoted to be Color Sergeant, 
vice Tvrrell who had been severelv wounded and who was 



AFTER FREDERICKSBURG. 91 

shortly after commissioned. Sergeant Detweiler had be- 
haved with great braver)' in the fight and was the first to 
jump out of the ranks and vohmteer to carry the flag when 
a new color sergeant was calle<l for. He was not only a 
fearless man but intelligent and filled the position with 
abilit}'. He carried the colors at Chancellorsville, Gettys- 
burg, Auburn, Bristow Station and Mine Run and was 
promoted to a Lieutenancy in November 1863. 

ST. PATRICK'S DAY, 1863, 

St. Patrick's day in camp was celebrated with the usual 
gayety and rejoicing by the men composing the Irish Bri- 
gade. This time-honored national anniversar\' was observed 
with all the exhaustless spirit and enthiisiasm of Irish 
nature. For daws previous vast preparations had been 
made, a race-course marked out, and on every side, written 
in large, bold characters, was the following announcement: 

GRAND IRISH STEEPI.E-CH ASE, 

" To come off the 17th of March, rain or shine, by horses, 
the property of, and to be ridden by, commissioned officers 
of that brigade. The prizes are a purse of ^500 ; second 
horse to save his stakes ; two and a half mile heat, best two 
in three, over four hurdles four and a half feet high, and 
five ditch fences, including two artificial rivers fifteen feet 
wide and six deep ; hurdles to be made of forest pine and 
braced with hoops ". 

The quartermaster was sent to Washington for liquors 
and meats, and brought for the banquet that was to follow 
the race the following moderate supply, which constituted 
the fare : Thirty-five hams, and a side of an ox roasted ; 
an entire pig, stuffed with boiled turkeys ; an unlimited 
number of chickens, ducks and small game. The drinking 
materials comprised eight baskets of champagne, ten 
gallons of rum, and twenty-two of whiskey. A splendid 
bower was erected, capable of containing some hundreds of 
persons, for a general invitation was issued to all the 
officers of the Armv of the Potomac. 



92 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

The evening previous to the races a committee was 
held on punch, as to who was the best qualified to mix 
that important compound. It was unanimously agreed 
that the General and staff were the best judges, and there- 
fore the most proper to undertake it. It was ruled that the 
matter be left entirely in their hands. Captains Gosson 
and Hogan were voted masters of ceremonies, in which 
they labored so diligently that before the mixture was 
complete both felt overpowered by their labors and had to 
be relieved from duty. 

The morning commenced with religious ceremonies, 
after which the different riders proceeded to dress them- 
selves. The dresses were showy, but some rather incon- 
gruous. One officer appeared mounted in scarlet, the top 
of his head crowned with a green velvet smoking cap, 
the present of his lady-love. The reason he assigned for 
his peculiar taste was, he was from Gal way, and his family 
had hunted with the Galway Blazers' Club, and dressed 
similarly. 

At eleven o'clock the grand stand was crowded with 
distinguished generals, officers, and about a dozen ladies. 

A large concourse of at least thirty thousand officers 
and soldiers had assembled to participate in the fun. Pre- 
vious to starting, the course was the object of attraction 
for spectators. Large crowds of soldiers were congregated 
in the vicinity of the interesting points, which seemed to 
be, in their estimation, where the leaps were highest and 
the ditches deepest. The nature of the ground was favor- 
able — a gently rolling stretch of land, over which the 
course ran for a mile and three-quarters in length — and at 
points about equal distances from each other, eight leaps 
had been erected or excavated. From the ground whereon 
the stand was, and where the flags marking the tracks 
waved, the hills, here and there crested with a growth of 
oak or cedar, sloped away towards the Rappahannock. The 
bluest of blue skies looked down on the gayly-dressed and 



AFTER FREDERICKSBURG. 93 

eager crowds, on the dashing horsemen, whose steeds 
pranced by the side of others on which were riding gay 
and brilliant women, on the quiet hills the peaceful river, 
the two hostile armies, and seemed to shower its blessings 
and its beauties on the festive throng assembled for enjoy- 
ment and sport commemorative of the national holiday of 
old Ireland. 

The start was named for eleven o'clock ; ten minutes 
before that hour the Commander-in-chief of the Army of the 
Potomac, Major-General Hooker, attended by all the mem- 
bers of his staff not detained at headquarters or elsewhere 
on duty, and accompanied by Lieutenant-Colonel Bentley, 
and Captain John C. L}'nch, of the Sixty-third, both of 
whom had waited on General Hooker earlier in the day, 
arrived on the ground. On the appearance of the Com- 
mander-in-chief he was greeted by warm cheers, which he 
gracefully acknowledged as he took his place on the grand 
stand. Before attempting to describe the sports of the day, 
it may be as well to notice some of the more prominent 
and distinguished of the invited guests. And let us first 
speak of the ladies, who added much, by their vivacity and 
their picturesque costiime, by their brilliancy and witchery, 
to the entertainments and amusements of the day. For- 
tunate citizens, dwelling in their quiet homes, and having 
before their eyes, every hour of the day, graceful and 
lovely women, can have no idea of the chivalrous emotions 
which swell the hearts of even the roughest soldier, seeing 
on rude camp-covered hills the figures, the fair faces, which 
it may be, have not been looked on in these regions and by 
these men for many, many months. If the reader has any 
conception of these things, he can easily imagine with 
what deep yet subdued gladness, the ladies were greeted 
by all. 

When a fitting opportunity oifered, in recognition of the 
hospitable greeting that was accorded him. General Hooker 
proposed three cheers for " General Meagher and his Irish 
Brigade, God bless them ". 



94 THE vSTORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

The following horses only, out of a larger number 
entered for the first race, open to the officers of the Irish 
Brigade, started : 

General Meagher's gray horse, ''Jack Hinton " ; rider. 
Captain John Gosson ; dress, crimson jacket, sleeves, 
breeches and white cap. 

Captain Hogan's bay horse, " Napper Tandy " ; rider. 
Lieutenant Ryder ; dress, blue jacket, white breeches, 
green cap. 

Captain Martin's bay mare, "Kathleen Mavourneen " ; 
rider. Captain Martin ; Solferino jacket, white breeches, 
maroon cap. 

Captain Langdon's black horse, " Nigger Bill " ; rider, 
Lieutenant Byron ; plaid jacket, white breeches, pink cap. 

Quartermaster McCormick's bay horse, " Sharpsburg " ; 
rider, Lieutenant O'Connor.; red jacket, white breeches, 
blue cap. 

Colonel Mulholland's chestnut horse, " Major " ; rider. 
Quartermaster Wade ; blue jacket, white breeches, red cap. 
Judges: Colonel Von Schaick, Seventh New York Volun- 
teers ; Colonel Frank, Fifty-seventh New York Volunteers. 

Umpire : Brigadier-General Caldwell. 

Clerk of the Course : General Meagher. 

A few minutes before eleven o'clock the bugle sounded 
to the post, the horses were uncovered, and the eager riders 
mounted. Precisely as the hand denoted the hour, the 
clerk of the course waved his whip, another sweet, inspir- 
ing note from the bugler, and they were off. Six horses, 
six gallant riders, the course, the leaps, innumerable 
throngs of spectators, met the eyes of those standing on 
the platform. The first leap was a hurdle almost five feet 
high. They came to it ; and cleared it beautifully ; two 
saddles were emptied ; the bay mare bolted but was 
spiritedly and scientifically brought to it, and flew over 
magnificently. With varying fortune the other leaps and 
spaces were taken and passed over, the rider of the gray 
drawing towards him the attention of the throng, by the 



AFTER FREDERICKSBURG. 95 

masterly manner in which he handled his horse. The 
home-stretch was reached, the gray, hard pressed by the 
bay, gained the winning post, and the umpire declared him 
the winner of the first heat. A wild, enthusiastic cheer 
went up from the jubilant throng. The start on the 
second heat was according to the formula of the first. All 
the horses cleared hurdle number one in fine style ; the run 
home was headed by the gray again, this time the little 
black closing tightly on him, and the gray was declared the 
winner, amid thunders of applause for his dashing rider. 

To this race succeeded a sweepstakes, open to all, and, 
as usual, all the incidents of an old-fashioned course 
happened. Eight horses contested for the prize, which 
was won by a fine chestnut, ridden by, it is said, a descen- 
dant of the Blucher of Waterloo fame. 

It was one o'clock when General Meagher announced 
that all further operations would be postponed for half an 
hour, and invited the ladies, the generals present, and 
staffs, to a collation, prepared and awaiting destruction at 
his quarters, and thither the goodly company proceeded. In 
front of the quarters two Sibley tents had been pitched, 
separated by a space of ten yards, which space was enclosed 
by an awning. In and under these the guests thronged. 
Mountains of sandwiches disappeared, no doubt filling up 
those voids which nature is said to abhor. With the precis- 
ion and promptitude of file-firing, pop, pop, went explosions 
that preceded copious draughts of rich wines. In and out, 
in fact everywhere, went the attentive officers of the 
brigade, attending to their visitors. What attracted most 
attention, however, and gratified ever}- appreciative palate 
were potations of spiced whiskey-punch, ladled by Captain 
Hogan, the Ganymede of the occasion, from an enormous 
bowl, holding not much less than thirty gallons. 

The following amusements followed : 

First. A foot-race, one-half mile distance, best of heats; 
open to all non-commissioned officers and privates, the 
winner to receive $7^ and the second $3. 



96 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

Second. Casting weights, the weights to weigh from 
ten to fourteen pounds ; the winner to receive $3. 

Third. Running after the soaped pig — to be the prize 
of the man who holds it. 

Fourth. A hurdle-race, one-half mile distance, open to 
all non-commissioned officers and privates ; the winner to 
receive $7, the second $3. 

Fifth. The wheelbarrow race— the contestants to be 
blindfolded, and limited to six soldiers of the Irish Brigade; 
the winner to receive $5 ; distance to be decided on the 
ground. 

Sixth. Jumping in sacks to the distance of five hundred 
yards ; the winner to receive $5. 

Seventh. A contest on the light fantastic toe, consisting 
of Irish reels, jigs, and hornpipes ; the best dancer to 
receive $5, the second best $3, to be decided by a judge 
appointed by the chairman. 

The amusements of the day were followed by a grand 
entertainment at night, theatricals and recitations. Many 
a health was drank, many a friend was toasted, flowing 
bumpers, loving glances at the fair ones, songs and toasts 
went freely round. Captain Hogan presided at the nec- 
tarean mixture, which floated like a spiced island in a 
huge barrel. Captain Jack Gosson, in his most recherche 
uniform, bespangled with lace, aided and assisted. 
Around them were a lot of drummer-boys and soldiers. 
These Captain Jack dispersed in the most dignified manner, 
while they looked most longingly at Captain Hogan, as 
he ladled out the punch. 

A poetical address was read by Dr. Lawrence Reynolds, 
of his own composition, giving a history of the career of 
the brigade. Dr. Lawrence, of the Sixty-third Regiment, 
was the poet laureate of the brigade. 

" THE PRESIDENT VISITS THE ARMY ". 

In the latter part of April the President visited and 
reviewed the army. The One Hundred and Sixteenth 




ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 



AFTER FREDERICKSBURG. 97 

Battalion never looked better than on this occasion. The 
great review took place on the plains back of Spofford 
Heights, and occupied two whole days. Corps after corps 
filed past, one hundred and twenty thousand men ; infan- 
try, cavalry and artillery, composing as General Hooker, 
in " grandiose" style, named it, " the finest army on the 
planet ". Every organization and every individual looked 
their best. But, although a joyous occasion, Mr. Lincoln 
wore that air of thoughtful sadness that every one recalls 
so well. While at Army Headquarters, in the morning 
surrounded by Generals and brilliant company, he seemed 
cheerful and full of Hfe and gayety, but, as hour after hour 
he rode along the line of troops, he appeared like a man 
overshadowed by some deep sorrow. No doubt he thought 
of the coming campaign, of the great battle in the near 
future, and of the many who would fall. On the second day 
of the review he seemed more overcome than usual, and 
his strong, rugged face bore visible traces of his inmost 
thoughts. During the afternoon he became unusually 
silent, and rode for an hour without exchanging a word 
with the brilliant staff" that galloped behind him. At one 
time his gait became very slow, and finally he reigned up his 
horse in front of a Pennsylvania regiment, and looking into 
the faces of the young soldiers who stood silently in line at 
a " present arm ", he let fall the lines on the horse's neck, 
and reaching out his arms towards the ranks, exclaimed, 
" My God, men, if I could save this country by giving up 
my own life and saving yours, how gladly I would do it". 
As he spoke, the tears stole down his furrowed cheeks, 
and his great heart seemed bursting. Then he slowly 
passed on — but who can forget the scene ? It was an 
episode called forth by the circumstances, the occasion 
and the man. 

Abraham Lincoln had a heart overflowing with kind- 
ness and love for all mankind. No human being was too 
lowly to be an object of his tender thought and solicitude. 
On one occasion a sorrowful woman waited all day in the 



98 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

ante-room at the White house, anxious to secure an inter- 
view with him. The crowd of visitors was so great that 
it was almost evening before her turn came, and when she 
was finally admitted into the reception room it was to 
find many still ahead of her. Shrinking and overcome 
with grief, she sat alone in a corner quietly sobbing. 
Mr. Lincoln standing at his desk received one after another, 
attending to the business of each and dismissing them in 
succession, but every once in a while he would glance at 
the veiled figure sitting motionless in the corner. When 
the last visitor had departed he walked over to the poor 
soul and holding out both his large hands said: "Now, my 
poor little woman, what can I do for you"? The "poor 
little woman " had a son who was to be shot in the morn- 
ing, for desertion. He had not meant to desert, but he was 
only a child and had gone home to see his mother. Well 
— he was not shot, but lived to prove himself a good 
soldier. The tears of the " poor little woman ", friend- 
less and alone, were as potent, and had as much influence 
on the great heart of Lincoln as an appeal from the 
grandest potentate on earth. One can scarcely conceive 
how, after a long day full of business and anxiety, inter- 
viewed by a host of eminent men on all sorts of important 
and pressing business, the President could have a moment 
left to give to a poor widow, yet, she received as much, 
and even more, consideration, as the greatest man in his 
audience, giving his hand and heart to the sorrowing 
mother with all the gentle tenderness of a great and noble 
nature. It was the crowning act of a well spent day, and 
how few days of Lincoln's life were not rendered sweet and 
sacred by such deeds. No doubt these incidents softened 
the habitual sadness that seemed to overshadow the life of 
the President. While ever full of sympathy and kindness 
for every one else, he never seemed to enjoy happiness 
himself except in the exercise of some good action. 

On one occasion a committee of ladies called to plead 
with him to send the thousands of wounded from the 



AFTER FREDERICKSBURG. 99 

hospitals around Washington to their own States, so that 
they might be near their homes. ' ' Do this, Mr. Lincoln ", 
said one of the ladies, "and the good deed will make you 
happy ". He issued the order but said quietly to himself: 
*' I will never be happy again ". 

The sadness that seemed to overshadow Mr. Lincoln 
during the afternoon of the review, continued to a great 
extent during the evening, and the brilliant company 
of officers and ladies gathered at General Sickles's head- 
quarters was influenced in a great measure by the 
President's apparent sadness. A shadow seemed to rest 
on everyone, and while Mr. Lincoln made an effort to be 
cheerful his smile was full of pathos and his gayety 
evidently forced. As the evening progressed the situation 
became embarrassing. The gallant commander of the 
Third Corps seeing that something must be done to 
relieve the situation and banish the glooni^ thought of 
a plan that had an immediate and happy effect, but 
threatened, for a time, most unpleasant consequences. 
Among the ladies present was the Princess Salm Salm, a 
dark eyed, attractive little woman, the wife of the com- 
mander of the Eighth New York, a soldier of many wars, 
who was afterwards killed in the Franco-Prussian War 
of 1870. 

General Daniel E. Sickles, taking her aside, suggested 
that in order to put life in the company and chase away 
dull care she should get the ladies to form a surprise 
party and each one kiss the President. There were ten 
or twelve ladies present, wives of the corps and division 
commanders, and visitors who had come to see the review. 
The Princess at first shrank from the suggestion, but 
finally, in a spirit of mischief and humor, consented. 
After quietly pursuading the others to enter into the 
scheme, she approached Mr. Lincoln who was standing by 
the fire, his tall form towering above everyone in the 
room, but how to reach up and kiss the lips so far above 
her was a momentous question. Not for long, however, 



100 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT, 

"Mr. Lincoln, let me whisper something," she said, and 
the tall form leaned over unsuspectingly to hear the 
secret, when a hearty kiss was delivered instead. The 
effect was electrical. The clouds passed away, and while 
the other ladies, amid much laughter and merriment, 
pushed forward to follow the example of the priucess, the 
whole company joined in the spirit of the thing. 

A most enjoyable evening followed, but there was one 
good lady who evicfently did not appreciate the good- 
natured joke of General Sickles and the Princess. Mrs. 
Lincoln was extremely angry, and made no effort to 
conceal her feelings in the matter, and, as far as General 
Sickles was concerned, the situation became very strained 
when, on the following day, he received orders to escort 
President and Mrs. Lincoln back to Washington. Mrs. 
Lincoln was fully aware that the author of the mischievous 
proceedings of the preceding evening was the gallant 
General, and she took pains to manifest her displeasure. 
Mr. Lincoln tried by every means in his power to smooth 
the thing over, but without success. 

At dinner he was specially gracious and full of wit 
and jest, but nothing could remove for an instant the 
grim expression on Mrs. Lincoln's face. She never once 
recognized or spoke to the brilliant commander of the 
Third Corps. Finally the President turned to him and 
exclaimed : " Sickles, they tell me that you have become 
very religious of late." This statement took the General 
by surprise, and not knowing whether the President was 
serious or still joking, replied : "Well, I cannot say that I 
am more so than usual. I am naturally of a religious 
nature." "Why," retorted Mr. Lincoln, " I hear that you 
not only have Psalms at your headquarters, but also, Salm 
Salms!" This sally disarmed Mrs. Lincoln. She burst out 
laughing, the kissing episode was forgiven, and Mrs. Lin- 
coln and General Sickles were friends until she died. 

As the spring approached, and the weather became 
better, picket duty on the river bank was not so trying, 



AFTER FREDERICKSBURG. 101 

and in the balmy days of April and May became most 
desirable. It was pictnresque and beautiful along the 
daisy and buttercup pied banks of the Rappahannock, 
and the fishing- after dark was excellent. Then it was 
interesting to look over the river and speculate on what 
the enemy was doing; for the men were in full view and 
their drills and reviews could be seen. 

Fredericksburg was always a point of deep interest. 
There was not a lady in our whole army, but many could 
be seen promenading the city streets and groups of children 
could be seen at play, recalling scenes at home. The 
music of the Confederate camps came softly floating over 
the still water, and crowds of citizens would gather on 
the opposite bank and on the city wharves, listening to 
the playing of the Union bands. On one sweet Spring 
evening a band on the Union side of the river played 
"Hail Columbia," and was promptly answered from the 
Confederates with "Bonnie Blue Flag." Then for an 
hour the songs of the Union and the Confederacy followed 
each other in answering harmon}\ Finally the Union 
musicians began playing "Home, Sweet Home". No 
derisive answer came to that tender chord, but the camps 
were quickly hushed, and on the calm of evening the air 
that touched every heart, both North and South, came 
echoing back from the Southern hills. It was a delight- 
ful episode, calling forth prayers and tears, and thoughts 
of dear and loved ones far away. One evening, during the 
siege of Sebastipole, the band of an English regiment 
played the sad and tender air of "Annie Laurie." The 
sound was taken up by others, the men of the whole army 
joined, and the chorus rose and swelled as forty thousand 
sons of the British Isles, in the trenches, united their 
voices in the song, 

" And for bonnie Annie Laurie, 
I would lay me down and die." 



102 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

The effect must have been touching indeed, but only 
"Home, Sweet Home" could ever have joined the North 
and the South together in heart, song and sentiment just 
at this time. 

The Rappahannock's stately tide, aglow with sunset light, 
Came sweeping down between the hills that hemmed its 

gathering might, 
From one side rose the Spofford slopes, and on the other shore 
The Spottsylvania meadows lay with oak groves scattered o'er. 
Hushed were the sounds of busy day ; the brooding air was hushed. 
Save for the rapid-flowing stream that chanted as it rushed. 
O'er mead and gently sloping hills, on either side the stream, 
The white tents of the soldiers caught the sun's departing beam — 
On Spoflford's Hills the Blue, on Spottsylvania's slopes the Gray: 
Between them, like an unsheathed sword, the glittering river lay. 
Hark ! Suddenly a Union band far down the stream sends forth 
The strains of "Hail Columbia", the pitan of the North. 
The tents are parted ; silent throngs of soldiers worn and grim. 
Stand forth upon the dusky slopes to hear the martial hymn. 

So clear and quiet was the night that to the farthest bound 

Of either camp was borne the swell of sweet, triumphant sound. 

And when the last note died away, from distant post to post 

A shout, like thunder of the tide, rolled through the Federal host. 

Then straightway from the other shore there rose an answering 

strain. 
"Bonnie Blue Flag" came floating down the slope and o'er 

the plain. 
And then the Boys in Gray sent back our cheer across the tide — 
A mighty shout that rent the air and echoed far and wide. 
"Star-spangled Banner", we replied ; they answered, " Boys in 

Gray", 
While cheer on cheer rolled through the dusk, and faintly 

died away. 

Deeply the gloom had gathered round, and all the stars had come,. 
When the Union band began to play the notes of " Home, Sweet 

Home". 
Slowly and softly breathed the chords, and utter silence fell 
Over the valley and the hills — on Blue and Gray as well. 
Now swelling and now sinking low, now tremulous, now strong. 
The leader's cornet plaj-ed the air of the beautiful old song ; 
And, rich and mellow, horn and bass joined in the flowing chords. 
So voice-like that they scarcely lacked the charm of spoken words. 
Then what a cheer from both the hosts, with faces to the stars ! 



AFTER FREDERICKSBURG. 103 

And tears were shed and pra3'ers were said upon the field of Mars. 
The Southern band caught up the strain ; and we who could 

sing, sang. 
Oh, what a glorious hymn of home across the river rang ! 

We thought of loved ones far away, of scenes we'd left behind — 
The low-roofed farm-house 'neath the elm that murmured in 

the wind ; 
The chldren standing by the gate, the dear wife at the door ; 
The dusty sunlight all aslant upon the old barn floor. 
Oh ! loud and long the cheer we raised, when silence fell again. 
And died away among the hills the dear familiar strain. 
Then to our cots of straw we stole, and dreamed the livelong night 
Of far-off hamlets in the hills, peace-walled, and still, and white. 



104 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 



CHAPTER IV. 



CHANCKLLORSVILLE. 



'npHE movement that culminated in the battle of Chan- 
cellorsville, began on April 27th. 

On that day the Fifth, Eleventh and Twelfth Corps 
left the camps at Falmouth and began their march to 
Kelly's Ford, twenty-seven miles above Fredericksburg. 
The Irish Brigade broke camp also, on that same morn- 
ing, and led the advance of Second Corps. Colonel Kelly 
with the Sixty-third and Eighty-eighth New York, halting 
at Bank's Ford, General Meagher with the One Hundred 
and Sixteenth Regiment, Sixty-ninth New York and 
Twenty-eighth Massachusetts, pushing on to United 
States Ford. 

There is a charm and a dreamy balminess in the 
spring atmosphere of Virginia, and on one of the sweetest 
of mornings imaginable, the regiment left the old camp 
ground and moved for the ford, to cross the Rappahannock 
and stiike the enemy once again. 

The path of the column lay through virgin forests, 
blossoming and beautiful, and the perfumed air of the 
woods seemed laden with hope and promise. Many of the 
wounded of Fredericksburg had returned to the ranks. 
The men had, in a measure, forgotten that mournful field. 
The change of commanders had a most salutary effect 
upon all, and the morale of the army was excellent. A 
new life had taken possession of that army which, though 
often defeated, was never dismayed, destroyed or conquered. 




r 



1 




MAJOR-GENERAL JOSEPH HOOKER. 



CHANCElvLORSVILLE. 105 

The da}" was a beautiful oue and the march, for some 
reason, exceedingly slow, with many halts and frequent 
rests. The road was lonely. Not a strange face was seen 
during the day, but the men were glad to leave the camj) 
where they had spent the long dreary winter, and enjoyed 
the sunshine and fresh sweet odor of the deep woods 
through which they leisurely strolled. 

Towards evening the regiment arrived at United 
States Ford. Looking over the river one could see the 
Confederate pickets on the further side, and the usual 
compliments, " Hello, Yank," "How are you, Reb?" were 
exchanged, but no firing took place. The boys across the 
stream seemed puzzled to know what the Union men were 
dofng or why they had come, and as the picket line was in 
full sight of theirs, they talked together and wondered 
still more. 

The woods along the river abounded in game. Rabbits 
hopped around in hundreds. Coveys of partridge and quail 
rose and with a loud whirr, flew further into the brush. 
A deer or two crashed through the timber and went flying 
past. The temptation to shoot was great but the orders 
*' not to fire " were imperative and not a shot was fired. 
Many of the men secured a good supper, however, by 
knocking down a stray rabbit with a stick. 

Darkness fell leaving the men to wonder why they had 
been sent to this loneh' spot. Morning came and found 
them no wiser, and the day of the twenty-eighth passed, 
and another night and morning, and still the mystery 
remained; but towards dusk, on the twenty-ninth, Han- 
cock and the balance of the division came up, and it was 
learned that three of the corps had crossed the river 
twenty miles above and that they were then coming down 
the opposite bank of the stream. 

On the morning of the thirtieth, the pontoons were 
brought to the river's edge, the engineers began building 
the bridge, the enemy's pickets quickly withdrew without 
offering any resistance, and at 3.30 p. m., two divisions of 



lOG THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

the Second Corps beg-aii crossinj^. It was almost dark 
when the tnrn of the regiment came, and it crossed the 
river in the dnsk. The enemy in retiring had left evi- 
dence of their hasty flight, the road for some distance 
being strewn with picks, spades and abandoned entrench- 
ing tools. 

After marching a short distance, the Irish Brigade 
turned sharply to the left, and was put into position to 
cover a road leading to Bank's Ford. The regimental line 
ran through a swamp that skirted the edge of a dark wood. 
The darkness became dense. The ankle-deep ooze made 
lying down impossible and standing up most inconvenient, 
so fallen trees as roosting places were in great demand, 
some sitting and trying to balance themselves on a ragged 
tree stump with feet drawn up to avoid the wet. Water- 
snakes crawled around in great numbers, frogs croaked, and 
hundreds of whip-poor-wills filled the trees and made the 
long night more dismal by their melancholy calling. The 
long hours passed without alarm, and when daylight came 
the snakes went back to their holes, the frogs ceased 
croaking and the whip-poor-wills became silent. lyooking 
around the men saw, not ten yards away, a beautiful dry 
ridge where they coiild have spent the night in comfort, 
had they but known it. 

During Friday, May ist, the regiment, together with 
three others of the brigade, maintained the same position, 
facing Bank's Ford, and in line, with the right reaching 
towards the plank road that runs from Fredericksburg 
to Chancellorsville, and the left reaching out towards 
the river. It was a peaceful day for the regiment. Not an 
enemy was seen, but one could hear the crash of musketry 
from time to time on the right and front, as the Union 
troops were pushing towards Fredericksburg. A long day 
it seemed, with every ear listening anxiously for news tliat 
was so difficult to obtain. 

When evening came it was learned that the army was 
falling back to take up a new line and fight a defensive 



CHANCELLORSVILLE. 107 

battle. Next morning, Saturday, May 2d, the brigade was 
moved to the extreme right of that line, to a point called 
Scott's Mills, and placed there to occupy and try to 
fill the gap that reached from the right flank of the army 
to the river. 

The day was spent in listening to the roar of the 
musketrv — which echoed and re-echoed throuy^h the dense 
woods, making sounds deafening and appalling — and in 
slashing timber to form revetments and abattis. The old 
buildings were loop-holed and turned into block-houses, 
and towards the end of the day the line was well prepared 
to give a cordial greeting to an enemy should he appear. 

From time to time, during the afternoon, rumors of a 
column of the enem.y moving across the front of the 
Union line to strike the right were heard and all felt 
anxious and nervous. General Meagher came down to the 
right of the brigade, where the regiment was stationed, 
addressed the men and begged them to make a good fight. 

The line of works had just been completed and, with 
a strong abattis in front, all felt confident of being able to 
hold it. 

But the flank of the One Hundred and Sixteenth, was 
in the air, nothing between it and the river, and the situa- 
tion was grave enough. A line of pickets were out in 
front and extending well to the right, but not enough men 
could be spared to carry it to the river. Just as Meagher 
was speaking Sergeant Halpin ran in from the picket to 
report that the enemy's skirmishers were advancing. A 
deer came crashing through the abattis, leaped the works 
and went bounding to the rear, before the men had time to 
recover from their astonishment at the unusual incident, 
a tremendous storm of musketry broke out on the left. 
Stonewall Jackson's twenty-six thousand men had struck 
the right flank of the Union Army, More minutes of 
suspense — terrific peals of musketry — the roar rising, 
swelling, filling the woods with sound and fury — Every 
man in the ranks standing at "ready". A soldier was 



108 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

halted as he tried to run to the rear. Another soon 
arrived, then five, ten, fifty. Hundreds of them came 
running back, frightened demoralized. They were stopped 
in crowds by the men of the regiment (a part of the 
Eleventh Corps had given away). They got tangled up in 
the abattis, every one of them panic stricken, frantic, 
almost insane, their only desire to get to the rear. 

The regiment, with the others of the brigade, stood 
calm and firm, stopping the fugitives in crowds. Meagher 
quickly changed direction of the left regiment of the 
brigade, so as to cover the main road, the better to check 
the disorderly flight. 

The darkness was gathering, the volleys of musketry 
coming nearer. The scene was one of awful confusion 
and dismay, and withal, no man in the line of the regi- 
ment or brigade seemed to be even excited. As the sound 
of the firing came nearer, the fugitives were quickly gath- 
ered into squads, forced to the rear, and the front of the 
fine was cleared for action. But the hour was growing 
late — darkness filled the forest. Another and final burst 
of musketry, a stream of whistling balls passed over, a 
random shell burst in the tree tops, the leaves and branches 
came showering down, "silence", "and the day was 
done". The picket line was rectified. Arms were stacked. 
The men lit little fires, cooked their coftee, and settled 
down to sleep as quietly as though at home in old Penn- 
sylvania, Not a shot had been fired by the regiment, but 
a day full of anxiety had been passed. 

At daybreak, on Sunday morning. May 3d, the battle 
was on again, and by five o'clock the continuous roar of 
artillery and volleys of musketry told that the fighting was 
fierce and deadly. The men cooked coffee, fried pork and 
enjoyed breakfast, calmly awaiting the next event. The 
presence of the Irish Brigade at Scott's Mills was no 
longer necessary, as the Frst Corps had extended the line 
of battle to the right and covered, in a manner, the vacant 
ground between the right flank of the army and the river. 



CHANCELLORSVILLE. 109 

By ten o'clock it was learned that the Union Army was 
falling back to a new line of battle which the engineers 
had prepared during the night, and shortly afterwards an 
order came for the Irish Brigade to move out to the Chan- 
cellorsville House and join the balance of the division 
which was at that time beating back the Confederate 
divisions of McLaws and Anderson, (then under the 
personal direction of General Lee). The brigade started 
for the front, passing along the road that ran from the 
United States Ford to the Chancellorsville House, with the 
regiment on the left. As it passed along the evidence of 
the struggle soon became manifest. Streams of wounded 
men flowed to the rear. I\Ien with torn faces, split heads, 
smashed arms, wounded men assisting their more badly 
hurt comrades, stretchers bearing to the rear men whose 
limbs were crushed and mangled, and others who had no 
limbs at all. Four soldiers carried on two muskets, which 
they held in form of a litter, the body of their Lieutenant- 
Colonel who had just been killed. The body hung over 
the muskets, the head and feet limp and dangling, the 
blood dripping from a ghastly wound, a terrible sight 
indeed. Wounded men lay all through the woods ; and 
here and there a dead man rested against a tree, where, in 
getting back, he had paused to rest and breathed his last. 
Shells screamed through the trees and, as the regiment 
approached the front, the whirr of the canister and 
shrapnel was heard and musket balls whistled past, but 
the men in the ranks passed on quietly and cheerfully, 
many of them exchanging repartee. During a moment's 
halt, with the shells falling and exploding around him, 
Sergeant Bernard McCahey looking back, waved his hand 
to the earth and air and in the most ludicrous manner ex- 
claimed, " Good boi wurreld". Another son of Erin said to 
his companion. "What are we going in here for, Jimmy"? 
" To be after making history, Barney, to be sure". 

The field officers were ordered to dismount, and move 
up the road on foot. As the writer walked at the head of 



110 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

the command, Major John C. Lynch, of the Sixty-third 
New York, walked by his side, and he chatted cheerfully 
and was full of gayety and life. Approaching the Chan- 
cellorsville House the brigade went " on the right by file, 
into line ", along the edge of the road with the left (the 
One Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers) 
resting on the plateau in the middle of which the Chan- 
cellorsville House stands. As the writer passed to the left, 
he bade his friend, Major Lynch, "Good morning". A 
moment afterwards Lynch fell dead, a shell drove his 
sword through his body, killing him instantly, and the 
handsome, noble fellow who had walked up the road so 
full of life and happiness, lay by the wayside, an unrecog- 
nizable mass of quivering flesh and bones. 

By the time the brigade had formed on the road all 
the army, except Hancock's division of the Second, and 
Geary's division of the Twelfth Corps, had gone to the 
rear to form on the new line. The men lay down along 
the edge of the wood and hugged the ground closely, to 
avoid the shells. 

In order to gain time and hold the enemy in check 
until the new line was secure. General Couch sent the 
Fifth Maine Battery to take position to right of the 
Chancellorsville House and to the left of the regiment. 
The brave young commander of that battery. Captain 
Leppine, came dashing up the road followed by his five 
guns. Quickly placing them in line among the blossom- 
ing apple trees of the orchard, he opened fire on the masses 
of the Confederates, then plainly visible in the woods, on 
the other side of the plateau. To place a battery in such a 
position was a desperate thing to do. The plateau and 
orchard were racked by the fire of thirty guns, and hardly 
had Leppine fired his first shot, when they were all turned 
upon him. A scene of wild grandeur followed. The 
shells from the Confederate batteries seemed to fill the air, 
tearing up the ground, rending the men and horses limb 
from limb, blowing up the caisson, exploding and bursting 




CAPTAIN GEORGE FREDERICK LEPPINE. 
Commanding Fifth Maine Battery. Killed at Chancellorsville May 3d, 1863. 



CHANCELLORSVILLE. Ill 

everywhere. Young Leppine was soon carried to the rear 
dying, with his thigh crushed and torn. Lieutenant Kirby 
was sent, by General Couch, to take his place, and he fell 
mortally wounded, among the guns, before he was with 
them a minute. Men were blown up with the caissons, 
and their torn and bleeding limbs fell with the apple- 
blossoms. The orchard was a very hell of fire. 

An orderly rode past and his head was taken off by a 
shell, but the momentum carried the headless trunk fifty 
feet before he fell and the riderless horse galloped into the 
enemy's lines. 

Another passing orderly fell from his horse with his 
bowels protruding. Many of the regiment were wounded. 
Duflfy, of Company A, was lying with a great piece of his 
skull crushed in. Another man lay beside him with his 
foot torn in a terrible manner. Dan Rodgers, a boy, had 
his shoulder-blade smashed ; but still the men kept won- 
derfully calm. Captain Nowlen sat in the road, humming 
a tune, filled his pipe, lit it with the burning fuse of a 
Confederate shell, and began smoking. Corporal Emsley, 
of the color-guard, was passing jokes with Abe Detwiler, 
the color sergeant ; and one w^ould suppose that the boys 
were listening to the church bells, on that sweet Sunday 
morning, instead of the rush and scream of the shells. 
Twenty minutes had passed since the battery went into 
action. Nearly all the guns had been silenced. Five of 
the six caissons had been blown up. The men who 
remained were lying among the pieces torn and bleeding. 
Smoke was seen issuing from the Chancellorsville House 
and soon the building was in flames. It was filled with 
wounded, and the family were still in the house. Captain 
William P. Wilson, of Hancock's staff, and a few men of 
the Second Delaware, rushed in and began dragging the 
wounded out and laying them under the trees, and suc^ 
ceeded in saving a large number. The large mansion was 
wrapped in flames and the ladies of the family rushed out 
onto the porch. Colonel James Dickenson^ of Sickles's 



112 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

Staff, gallantly ran forward and offered to escort them into 
the lines. They all accepted the proffered service, and, 
with a courteons bow, he gave each an arm and brought 
them to a place of safety. One old colored woman ran 
towards the Confederate position and succeeded in reach- 
ing the line, but was wounded as she ran. 

The scene was one of terror, dismay, and desolation. 

Geary's division had gone and Hancock was withdraw- 
ing. Soon nothing was left near the Chancellorsville 
House except the Irish Brigade and the almost silenced 
battery. *One gun was still firing, however, and a gallant 
corporal and one man still clung to the piece and fired it 
when all others had gone. It was time for the last troops 
to fall back, and the order came to the One Hundred and 
Sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers to save the abandoned 
guns. One hundred of the men were quickly detailed 
to rush forward and surround the pieces and drag them 
to the rear, which was done in splendid style. When 
the euns were started down the road a few men of the 
One Hundred and Fortieth Pennsylvania Volunteers gal- 
lantly came forward to assist and help to take one of the guns 
to a place of safety. After seeing the wounded out of the 
burning house and safe Captain Wilson gallantly rushed 
to the rescue of the battery and never left until the last 
gun was saved, As a squad was tugging away at one of 
the guns, trying to get it started, a shell burst in their 
midst, killing Theodore Walker and George Rushworth of 
Company D, wounding half a dozen others and knocking 
everyone over on their backs. The men jumped to their 
feet and rushed at it again, laughing at the mishap, and 
pulled it off. Then the whole command started down the 
road. Young Sergeant George Halpin, seeing one of the 
caissons still standing, wished to take it off also, but the 
men were gone, and as he could not haul it off alone, he 

* The writer had the pleasure of afterwards securing a Congress medal 
of honor for Corporal Lebroke and the private of the battery who so 
uobly stood to their guns, on this morning. 



CHANCEIvIvORSVILLE. 113 

concluded to destroy it ; so striking a match he lit a news- 
paper, threw it in, jumped back and the chest blew up. 
By some miracle, the brave boy remained uninjured 
himself. As the regiment passed down the road with 
the guns, the Confederates advanced and took possession 
of Chancellorsville, the One Hundred and Sixteenth 
Pennsylvania Volunteers being the last to leave that 
storm-swept ground. 

Passing out of the woods into the open space near the 
Bullock House the regiment was met by General Sickles, 
who, rising in his stirrups, called for three cheers "for the 
regiment that saved the guns ", and the boys felt proud 
and happy. 

The five guns were turned over to the chief of artillery, 
and the command rejoined the brigade and went into 
position on the new line to the left of the road and facing 
Chancellorsville. 

The line of works held by the Union army, during the 
fourth and afternoon of the third, were remarkably strong 
and solid — log revetments sufficiently strong to resist shell, 
with thick abattis in front. When the Union army retired 
to that line the battle of Chancellorsville was practically 
ended. The only fighting for the next two days was a 
severe skirmish in front of the Twelfth Corps, in which 
Major General Whipple was killed. 

But while there was no general engagement, there was 
plenty of firing. The Confederate sharpshooters occupied 
every coign of advantage and were extremely vigilant. 
To show the head over the works was to court death, and 
there were many narrow escapes during the two days, as 
well as numerous casualities. 

The night of the third was one to be long remembered, 
the enemy making continual demonstrations, the Union 
soldiers vigilant, awake and watchful. A lovely, cloud- 
less night it was, with the planets quietly glittering in the 
azure above. General Meagher, in full uniform, walked 



114 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

up and down the brigade line. The men of the regiment 
lay, musket in hand ; Sergeant Detwiler dozing, now and 
and then, with the colors tightly grasped. The men were 
tired, sleepy and dazed for want of rest, which they could 
not get on account of the frequent alarms. 

Every time the boys slumbered, the sharp crack of a 
parrot gun or a crash of musketry would awaken them 
with a start, so the majority of them lay awake quietly 
chatting, some of the morrow, others of home. One 
group, lying on their backs looking up to the heavens, 
began talking about the stars. "Wonder if the people 
up there (in the stars) go to war." "Wonder if they 
have parrot guns." "Wonder if they allow foraging." 
"Wonder if the commissary gets up in time when the 
rations is out." " Wonder if they have sutlers and if their 
government allows them to charge three dollars a bottle 
for bad whiskey." And so the long night passed and 
another day came. A long beautiful spring day, with the 
sharpshooters vigilant. The afternoon brought with it a 
breeze, and as the wind was blowing towards the Union 
line, the enemy fired the woods with a view of annoying. 
The flames drifting towards the Union line were unpleasant 
enough, as they threatened the abattis. A flock of wild 
pigeons circled around through the smoke. Towards 
evening, the men on the picket line succeeded in extin- 
guishing the fire before it had done much injury to the 
works. 

So well had the builders done their work that when, thirty years 
afterwards, the writer passed over the ground, he found the work still 
standing and in good enough condition to occupy and fight behind. 
Bits of knapsacks, leather straps, broken shells and the usual debris of 
the battle were still visible along the line, but the scene was changed, 
and profound peace reigned in the lonely woods. 

Where the men stood to deliver their fire from behind the works, 
the grass was growing fresh and green. Squirrels ran over the revet- 
ments and found quiet homes in the holes made by the shells. Wild 
honeysuckle knit together the withered branches of the abattis. 
Wild roses bloomed. The birds sang, and built their nests in the trees 
where sharpshooters had sat in the foliage watching for a shot, 
and when evening came, the whip-poor-will uttered, as of old, his 
complaining cry. 



CHANCELLORSVILLE. 115 

The picket line in front ran through a lovely bit of 
forest. The enemy's sharpshooters were exceedingly 
active, but Berdan's sharpshooters held the Union line 
and returned all compliments in the most vigorous man- 
ner. Many of them fell during the day and the ground 
at every post was stained with blood. Banks of violets 
bloomed and dead men lay in pleasant places where 
spring flowers perfumed the woodlands. Squirrels leaped 
affrighted, from bough to bough, wondering at the strange 
intrusion on their solitude, and birds flew screaming 
through the timber or circled around their nests in wild 
alarm. A shell would now and then go tearing through 
the trees, burst in the tops and send the branches 
and leaves showering down. Frequently a tree would be 
cut down entire, causing the sharpshooters who were 
esconsced in the upper foliage to calculate the chances of 
having their line of communication cut and getting an 
abrupt fall as well. 

Evening came again, the sun went down, and another 
night was at hand. The rain began falling and by mid- 
night was coming down in torrents, and, when darkness 
gathered on the sad field, the noble army that had been 
beaten by the incompetency of its commander, commenced 
evacuating the works and falling back to cross the river. 
All night long as the men stole away to the rear in the 
gloom, the wind tossed the tree-tops, and sobbed through 
the dripping pines. The silence and darkness were intense. 
Ever and anon the stillness would be broken by the sound 
of musketry coming from the picket line, as the men fired 
random volleys to deceive the enemy and make them 
believe the Union troops were still there. All night long 
the tramp of the infantry and rumble of artillery sounded 
on the pontoons. 

No time to carry away the wounded or bury the dead, 
and they lay on the gory field with their white faces turned 
to the weeping sky. By day-break nearly all were gone, 
and the regiment was among the very last to cross the 



116 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

swollen river. The pickets hastily fell back and double- 
qnicked for the bridge. The enemy nished to intercept 
and cut them off, but they got there first and crossed, and 
the pontoons were cut away. A Confederate battery 
arrived on the bank and fired a few shots, as the last of the 
Union army disappeared over the bluff, and the Chancel- 
lorsville campaign was ended. 

{See page 328, Vol. XXV., Official Records of the War). 

REPORT OF MAJOR ST. CLAIR A. MULHOLLAND, 
1 1 6th Regiment Pennsylvania Voi^unteers. 

Chancei^LORSVille, May 4th, 1863. 

Sir : In accordance with orders just received. I have the honor to- 
submit the following report in regard to certain guns that were taken 
off the field of action by the men of my command, on the morning of 
Sunday, May 3d, 1863. 

The Irish Brigade was engaged in supporting the Fifth Maine 
Battery, commanded by Captain Leppine, when the battery had been 
engaged with the enemy about one hour. All the officers and men 
belonging to it had either been killed or wounded, or had abandoned 
their pieces, with the exception of one man (Corporal James H. 
Lel:roke), and all the guns were silenced except one. About this time 
Major Scott of General Hancock's staff, rode up to me, and requested 
me to take a sufficient number of men to haul the abandoned guns off 
the field, as they were in great danger of being captured by the enemy. 
My regiment being at the time on the left of the brigade, and nearest 
the battery, I at once led my men towards the abandoned battery and 
ordered them to haul the guns up the road. They obeyed with alacrity 
and removed three of the guns off the field and to the rear. After 
taking off the last piece I followed my men up the road and found 
another gun in possession of one of my lieutenants (L. J. Sacriste). 
This piece he had taken off without my knowledge, making in all, four 
guns saved by my command. The fifth piece taken to the rear was 
taken off the field by some men of the One Hundred and Fortieth 
Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was by them taken up the road about one 
hundred yards, where they were forced to halt, not having enough men 
to move the piece further. I at once sent some of my men to assist 
them and the guns were brought off successfully. I found it necessary, 
in removing the guns, to order the men to leave their muskets, as they 
could not work with them in their hands. Seventy-three of them did 
so. When the last gun was brought off I went back to the left to 



" CHANCELLORSVILIyE. 117 

ascertain whether any more remained. I found eight or ten of my men 
coming up the road and ordered them back to gather up as many 
muskets as they could carry. I do not think that they succeeded in 
saving any. I was greatly aided in bringing off the guns by Lieutenant 
Wilson, of General Hancock's staff, who acted with great bravery, and 
personally assisted in bringing off the pieces. 

St. Clair A. Mulholland, 
Major Commanding Ii6th Penna. Volunteers. 
To M. W. Wall, 

A. A. A. General. 



{Seepage 32 J, Vol. XXV., Official Records of the War). 

REPORT OF LIEUTENANT EDWARD WHITEFORD, 
Aid-de-Camp. 

ChancellorsvillE, Va., May 3d, 1863. 

Captain : In accordance with orders from General Meagher, I 
have the honor to report as follows : 

During the heat of the action, personal orders were received from 
General Couch to advance the Brigade (then supporting the Fifth 
Maine Battery) through the woods in their front, but were immediately 
countermanded hy him, and skirmishers ordered to be thrown out. 

On returning, I found that the fire which the enemy had con- 
centrated on the above battery compelled the men to desert the guns, 
the horses at the time being all killed or wounded. On reporting the 
fact to General Meagher, I was ordered by him to tell Major Mulhol- 
land, of the One Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania 
Volunteers, to save the guns with his men at any risk, and too much 
praise cannot be bestowed upon him for his cool bravery and that of the 
men under his command, having to take them (the guns) out of stiff 
yellow clay, where the guns were stuck, and under a galling fire of the 
enemy, by which many of his men were killed or wounded ; but he 
succeeded, most fortunately, in obeying orders, and drawing the guns, 
five in number to within one mile of the pontoon bridge, where limbers 
were sent up, from the chief of artillery, to draw them to the rear. 

I have the honor to be captain, 

Most respectfully, 

E. WhiTeford, 
To Captain M. W. Wall, Aid-de-Camp. 

A. A. Adjutant General. 



IIS THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

LETTER FROM CORPORAL J. H. LEBROKE, FIFTH MAINE 

BATTERY. 

Camp Near White Oak Church, Va., May 27th, 1863. 
To the Editor of the Press : 

Who brought off the guns ot the Fifth Maine Battery? 

As this question has caused much discussion, I thought I would 
let the friends of the battery know through the columns of your paper 
to whom the honor is due. It has been stated that Lieutenant Whitlier 
deserves great credit for bringing off the guns after the horses were 
killed. Lieutenant Whittier did not bring oflf the guns, neither was he 
there at the time. After the battery had ceased firing, one of the 
gunners went to General Hancock for a detail to haul off the guns. 
He sent a detail from the Irish Brigade under the command of 
Lieutenant-Colonel Mulholland and Lieutenant Wilson, of Hancock's 
staff. The guns were hauled three miles by hand and the same brave 
men who exposed themselves to a severe fire of shot and shell from the 
rebel batteries to save our guns, lost their own muskets, for the enemy 
held the ground immediately after. 

Truly yours, 

J. H. Lebroke, 
Corporal, Fifth Maine Batter>'. 



HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION, SECOND CORPS. 

Near Fai^mouth, Va., May loth, 1863. 

Major : The Major-General commanding the division directs me 
to express to you his gratification at the manner in which you per- 
formed your duties as " Field Officer of the Day" for the division from 
May 3d to 6th. 

The General was especially pleased with your action in reference 
to extinguishing the fire in front of the picket line. He had ordered 
the fire to be put out several times, but the order was not carried into 
effect until you were placed in command of the pickets. I am, sir, 

Very respectfully your obedient servant, 

W. G. Mitchell, 

A. D. C. and A. A. A. G. 

To Major St. Clair A. Mulholland. 

ii6th Regiment, Penna. Volunteers. 




-" s^A^ «-^- 



CH ANCELLORSVI LLE 
" When the Battery was saved.' 



CHANCELI.ORSVILLE. 119 

HEADQUARTERS IRISH BRIGADE. 

Nbar Falmouth, Va., May loth, 1863. 

Major : The Brigadier-General (Meagher) commanding, directs 
me to add his own expressions of gratification to that of General Han- 
cock, in his letter of commendation to you for your conduct at the 
Battle of Chancellorsville. I have the honor to remain, 

Your obedient servant, 

M. W. Wali,, 
To Major St. Clair A. Mulholland, A. A. A. G. 

ii6th Regiment, Penna. Volunteers. 



120 THB STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 



CHAPTER V. 



CHANCELLORSVILLE TO GETTYSBURG. 

A TIRED, hungry, sleepy and altogether weary set of 
■^^ men it was who, after passing over the pontoons, 
climbed up the steep, wet and slippery clay bank of the 
Rappahannock and took their way back to the old camp 
near Falmouth. Thirty-one of those who had crossed 
with the regiment but a few days before had been left on 
the other side, dead or wounded, but those who were 
slowly dragging their aching limbs along were too much 
depressed to talk of the missing ones. 

Theo. Walker, of Company D, was among the dead. 
He was a man of remarkable attainments, educated and 
intelligent, with a wonderful flow of language. In any 
other army he would have been (as a private soldier) a 
phenomenon, but in any army that numbered thousands 
of college graduates in the ranks, he was only one of the 
many. He was a man who would be missed, however, 
around the camp fires of the future. Half way back to 
camp loads of hard tack was piled on the wayside to 
supply the returning troops. It was a welcome sight for 
the boys were badly in need of rations and the crackers, 
though soaked with rain, were eaten with relish. Then in 
the afternoon, in the old winter camp that the men never 
expected to see again — too tired to put up the tents — and 
it rained so hard ! Everything was damp and wet. Noth- 
ing to do but to cut logs and start the camp fires and rest 
in the mud. To-morrow they would clean up once more, 



CHANCELLORSVILLE TO GETTYSBURG. 121 

get the shelter tents stretched over the log huts and begin 
housekeeping all over. 

When falling back from the field the men were excited 
to sympathy at the sight of a large and beautiful setter 
dog crouching beside a dead officer. No inducement they 
could offer would cause the noble brute to leave his friend, 
and he was left to become a prisoner of war when the 
enemy advanced. The dog was one of a number that 
shared the fate of the troops. 

Captain Byron, Eighty-eighth New York had a little 
slut named Fan who went into every battle with her 
master. She realized the danger and would run behind 
the works the moment the firing began, and when a lull 
would follow she would run through the regiment as 
though trying to find out whether any of her friends were 
killed or wounded. She seemed to be endowed with an 
unusual amount of reason and never failed to seek shelter 
on the side of the log, tree, or field works furthest away 
from the enemy, and she never made a mistake as to which 
was the right side. During a breathing spell at Chan- 
cellorsville she was outside of the line hunting for rabbits 
among the abattis. At the whistle of the very first rifle 
ball indicating an attack she leaped the breast-high works 
and hugged close to the revetment. The instant the fight 
was over Fan was out again running among the men, 
seeming overjoyed to find some of them alive and well, 
but when she found one man, to whom she was much 
attached, mortally wounded, she threw herself on him, 
whining and crying, while the dying man feebly reached 
his hand and patted her head. 

Shortly after the battle General D. N. Couch left the 
Second Corps. He was an officer beloved by all. He 
asked to be relieved and transferred to other scenes of use- 
fulness because he had lost all confidence in the com- 
mander of the Army of the Potomac. He was a man of 
loyalty, courage and honor, and it was a pity that he did 



122 THE STORY OF TPIE i i6th REGIMENT. 

not remain a few weeks longer when a man after his own 
heart would be in command. 

On the retirement of General Couch, General Winfield 
S. Hancock was assigned to the Second Corps as perman- 
ent commander, and General John C. Caldwell assumed 
command of the First Division. 

Captain George Frederick Leppine, who was killed 
while in command of the battery that was saved by the 
regiment, was a brilliant young artillery officer. He was 
educated at a military school in Germany. He was born 
in Philadelphia, his father being German Consul in that 
city for some years. Captain Leppine failing to get a 
command from his native State, took the Fifth Maine 
Battery to the front. 

A very high compliment was paid to the regiment by 
General Caldwell, the Division Commander, by the detail 
of Company B, entire, to division headquarters to act as 
Provost Guard, with Lieutenant William M. Hobart as 
Provost Marshall, and Lieutenants Henry D. Price and 
William H. Tyrrell as officers of the Guard. As it was 
customary to select only the most reliable and choice 
troops for this important service, nothing could so strongly 
testify to the efficiency and splendid condition of the regi- 
ment at this time than this detail. 

The weeks of May passed swiftly. Drills, reviews and 
inspections without number. The battalion at this time 
became disciplined and drilled to perfection. The bayonet 
exercise and skirmishing were much indulged in, and 
many of the men became wonderfully proficient in the 
former. From reveille to taps there was not an idle 
moment in camp, and the picket line along the quiet and 
beautiful river was the place now most desired. Picket 
duty was very different during the sunny days of balmy 
May from the bleak days of the winter when the men were 
compelled to stand in the cold for hours and days at a time 
without being allowed to build fires. How the bleak 
winds whistled over the frozen stream those wintry days ! 




MAJOR-GENERAL D. N. COUCH. 
■Commanded Second Corps, from October gth, 1862 to June loth, 1S63. 



CHANCELLORSVILLE TO GETTYSBURG. 123- 

How chilled, cold and famished the men on picket then, 
and how comfortable the huts in camp. But in May, by 
the flowing river whose banks were pied with daisies and 
yellow buttercups, the picket line was the place most 
desired. The two hours of calm watching by the moving 
stream, and the alternate four hours of absolute rest in the 
reserve was far more agreeable duty than was to be found 
in the active camp where drill, guard mount, review and 
inspection followed each other so incessantly. 

May 19th, General Meagher having resigned from the 
army, took leave of the brigade. The brigade being 
formed Meagher spoke for ten or fifteen minutes with 
more than usual fervor and eloquence. Then passing 
down the whole line in dead silence, he shook the officers 
and many of the men by the hand. The scene was most 
affecting and many were weeping. The members of the 
regiment, not having known him so long as the others 
were, of course, less moved than those of the other regi- 
ments of his command, but nevertheless they had learned 
to admire him, and they had followed him in two hard 
battles. As he stood there in the twilight with bared 
head and the tears streaming down his handsome face and 
said the last farewell. 

Officers and soldiers, said he : 
" My Countrymen and Comrades in Arms: 

A positive conviction of what I owed to your reputa- 
tion, to the honor of our race, and to my own conscience, 
compelled me a few days ago to tender to the President of 
the United States my resignation of this command. I 
shall not recapitulate the reasons which induced and justi- 
fied me to do so. It would be superfluous. There is not 
a man in this command who is not fully aware of the 
reasons which compelled me to resign, and there is not a man 
who does not thoroughly appreciate and approve it. Suf- 
fice it to say that, the Irish Brigade no longer existing, I 
felt that it would be perpetuating a great deception were I 



124 THR STORY OF THR ii6th REGIMENT. 

to retain the authority and rank of a brigadier-general 
nominally commanding the same, which was no more; I 
therefore conscientiously, though most reluctantly, re- 
signed my commission. That resignation has been 
accepted, and as your late general I now bid you an aflec- 
tionate farewell. I cannot do so, however, without leaving 
on record the assurance of the happiness, the gratitude and 
pride with which I revert to the first days of the Irish 
Brigade, when it struggled in its infancy and was sustained 
alone by its native strength and instincts ; and retrace 
from the field, where it first displayed its brilliant gal- 
lantry, all the efforts, all the h;irdshii:>s, all the i)rivations, 
all the sacrifices which have made its history — brief though 
it be — sacred and inestimable. Sharing with the hum- 
blest soldier freely and heartily all the hardships and 
dangers of the battle-field — never having ordered an ad- 
vance that I did not take the lead myself — I thank God 
that I have been spared to do justice to those whose heroism 
deserves from me a grateful commemoration; and that I 
have been preserved to bring comfort to those who have 
lost fathers, husbands and brothers in the soldiers who have 
fallen for a noble government under the green flag. My 
life has been a varied one, and I have passed through many 
distracting scenes. But never has the river that flowed 
beside my cradle, never have the mountains that over- 
looked the paths of my childhood , never have the old 
walls that claimed the curiosity and research of maturer 
days, been effaced from my memory. As at first — as in 
nature — the beautiful and glorious picture is indelible. 
Not less vivid, not less uueffaceable, will be the recollection 
of my companionship with the Irish Hrigade in the service 
of the United States. The graves of many hundreds of 
brave and devoted soldiers, who went down to death with 
all the radiance and enthusiasm of the noblest chivalry, 
are so many guarantees and pledges that, as long as there 
remains one officer or soldier of the Irish Brigade, so long 
shall there be found for him, for his family and little ones. 



cMiANCM':ij/)RsviM,i'; To (■■iCT'rvsiniKcv i'jr> 

i( ;iiiv Ihfic l)f, ;i dcvolcd liiciid in TIidiii:!', I'l.iiicis 

The llicii li-lt s.-id ciioiij'li, niid ■..il ;ii()iiiid llic liics llial 
nij^^lit (|iiift ;md suIxIik il. 

'iMu- olliciis ol iii«()in- Iliiiidicd and Si xlccMit 11 Re^i- 
iiieiil assciiihli-d and all sij-ncd llic lollowiu}; addifss 
wllicll was plfscnlcd Id (Icncial IVIfa'-lici hdoK- lie jcfl 
ncxl nioininj;: 

III';AI)0I!AU'!'I',NS M^'I'II I'1'',NNSVI,VAMA VOI.IIN'ri'J'.KS, 

li<u;ii Muic.Ani',, Hancock's Division, 

SucoNi) AuMV C'oHi'S, Miiy iMIli, iHI>]. 

Al il IlK•^•tlll^4 <>i llii_' coiiimihhioiit-il olliti-rh ol llii- Oiii- Iliimlrfd iiml 
Sixteenth I'eniiHylvHiiia VoliilitcerH, Miijor St. Cliiir A. Miilhollaiid whs 
called to the fluiir, iind I'ii'il f,iciiltiiMiit I,ouiH J. vSacrJKte wriH appoiiitfd 
Hecretary. Tin- lolldwuij' ))ii-iiiii1j1i- and leHoliitioiiH were propoHed mid 
iinaiiiiiiously adopted : 

" WiriCKUAS, JJy' tlie aceept.iiice o( llu- reHigiiatioii o( our htdoved 
j^eiicral, ThoitiaH Hrancia Meaj<lier, we liave been deprlverl of one who 
was always HolicilouH for our coiMlort (iiid welfare ; therefore, be il 

RiC.SOi,viCl», That by the r< lii-oiii ioii of Hrlj^adierC ietieral Mea^^her 
this brigade, and eHjiecially lliih regiment, experiences an iireparal)le 
losK one which in felt alike by ofhcerh and men; we have been de- 
prived of a leader whom we all would liavi- followed t«) dealli, if 
neccHHary ; a leader whoHe imiiie wan sidiicicnl to HlriUe terror into the 
heartH of liiw foen, and ex<Mtt- admiial idii in the ln'iu Ih of bin < o ))atriot» 
in arniH. 

Kl{Soi,vi',l», Thai III till- di'><liai;.;e o( liiii ollicjal did icH he exhibited 
alike those (|ualities whuli only a true uoldier I'aii poHsewh -when on 
duty a strict dihcipliniiriim, and when off duty an affable, av>«'eeable, 
and kind couipioiion. 

R»(Soi,viu>. That an a soMier he was foremost in the battle, oMcriin( 
his life as a sacrifice for the cause of lilierty and tlie Constitution of his 
adopted country which country has lost by his resiKiiatioii one of its 
most jjatri<itic j.M-neialH, one of its most dariii)< holdiein, hikI the army 
one of its brij^htcht ornaments. 

Rns(>l,viu>, That isi his r<-tiieni'_iit l(j civil lil< In- carries with liiiu 
our most sincere wishes for his future welfare, and we earnestly hope 
tli.it hill fuliir** life may l)e as successful as his past career lias been 
brilliant and honorable". 



126 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

Henceforth, tlie Irish Brigade was be led by a new 
commander, the amiable, noble Patrick Kelly, Colonel of 
the Eighty-eighth New York Volunteers, who was de- 
stined, like Elias of old, to ascend to heaven in a chariot 
of fire. The brilliant Meagher was gone but his mantle 
had fallen on one who was most worthy to wear it. June 
loth General Couch left the corps and Hancock, who had 
called the Irish Brigade his " right arm " assumed com- 
mand, and on June 14th the second corps moved back from 
the river and began the long march that preceded the 
battle of Gettysburg. 

ITINERARY OP^ THE MARCH TO GETTYSBURG. 

The march of the first day was via Stafford Court 
House which was in flames as the column passed. On to 
Acquia Creek where the halt for the night was made. On 
the 16th marched through Dumfries to Wolf Run Shoals 
on the Occoquan River — and camped. The march, like 
that of the preceding day, was one of the greatest fatigue, 
the heat most oppressive. The dust rising in clouds 
stifled the men. Water was not to be had. Hundreds of 
men fell by the way to be picked up by the ambulances, 
which were soon filled with very sick, and in many cases, 
dying men. The regiment again proved the superiority 
of the city men over those who had come from the farm. 
Very few of the men of the regiment were missing at roll- 
call when the two dreadful days were ended, and no sooner 
was coffee cooked than almost every man in the command 
was swimming about in the stream. The pleasure of the 
bath was much lessened by the enormous quantities of 
water snakes that infested the vicinity. After dark a 
group of officers were enjoying the welcome swim, their 
clothes piled on the shore, when some one cried out that 
he felt something moving around his feet. A match was 
lit and a sight met the bathers' eyes that horrified and 
amazed them. The whole strand was a mass of writhing, 



ITINERARY OF THE MARCH TO GETTYSBURG. \-27 

squirming serpents! vSnakes of all sizes, short and long, 
thick and lean, in groups and tied in knots. Snakes single 
and by the dozen. Snakes bythe hundred, countless and 
innumerable. What a scramble for clothes before the 
match went out! What an euibarassing predicament 
when it did! Dark as pitch, and a fellow's garments all 
tangled up with knots and rolls of serpents. How every 
one got back to camp with enough clothes to cover their 
nakedness is a mystery. No doubt, some of the One 
Hundred and Sixteenth literally shook snakes out of their 
boots, and by the light of the fire-flies looked for others in 
their blankets. 

On the 17th, went into camp near Fairfax Station on 
the Orange and Alexander R. R., and from here all sur- 
plus baggage was sent to Alexander. Happy was the man 
who after that day had a piece of soap and a fine tooth 
comb — especially the latter. 

June 19th, marched to Centcrville, and bivouaced in- 
side the fortifications of Washington. Rained heavily. 

On June 20th left Centerville, marching through the 
village with flying colors. Moved via the Bull Run Pike, 
cro.ssing Broad Run by wading. Passed over the left por- 
tion of Bull Run battlefield. Here the troops rested an hour, 
with the rain falling steadily. The bodies, or rather the 
skeletons of the dead of the battle were expo.sed and the 
men were evidently affected and depressed at the sight. 
Then, on again to Gainsville. Next to Ha>inarket. vStill no 
halt or rest. Through slnsh,niud and rain, pushing on in the 
dark to Thoroughfare Gap, reaciiing the latter place at mid- 
night, with the regiment resting in a swamp until day- 
light next morning. About six o'clock of this day's 
march. Captain Teed thinking that he would soon come 
to a halt, picked up a couple of nice sticks on which he in- 
tended to erect his shelter tent. An hour pa.ssed and no 
halt was called. Another hour and still another, and the 
tramp, tramp, tramp continued. Mile after mile was 
passed and still no camping for the night. The sticks 



r_>S THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

became heavy but Teed was not going to be fooled by cast- 
ing tliem away. He just knew that the column would halt 
right over that hill or when we would reach the valley 
then in view. But the hill was passed and the valley left be- 
hind and still onward went the column — the sticks were 
becoming so very, very heavy. Ten o'clock, eleven o'clock, 
and no rest. Half past eleven! — "Well, no use talking, 
gentlemen, we are going to march all night! " and away 
went the sticks after being carried for some fifteen miles. 
Half an hour afterwards the halt was called, but Teed's 
sticks were a mile away and he slept like the others — in 
the mud and without his shelter tent. 

Rested two happy, sunshiny days at Thoroughfare Gap 
and enjoyed the pure air and magnificent scenery. With- 
drew from the position on the morning of June 23d, and 
leaving the mountains suffused with the golden light of 
sunrise, moved to Haymarket where Stewart's Confeder- 
ate Cavalry were encountered. Stewart put a battery in 
position and shelled the corps for a short time, killing and 
wounding half a dozen, but quickly disappeared when he 
saw the lines forming for a fight. Then on to Gum 
Springs, where bivouac was formed in a drenching rain. 
June 24th, marched at 6 A. m. and moved to Edward's 
Ferry and crossed the Potomac near the scene of the Ball's 
Bluff disaster. Moved four miles into Maryland and biv- 
ouaced. June 25th resumed the march, via Poolsville to 
Barnesville. One mile beyond that town halted for the 
night. June 26th marched at 10 A. m. Reached Sugar 
Loaf Movmtain at noon. At Sugar Loaf Mountain the 
three armies of the service met. Cavalry, artillery and in- 
fantry, coming seemingly from three different directions. 
The whole army began singing and shouting the " Battle 
Cry of Freedom," which resounded and filled the valley 
with music and was echoed from every mountain side — a 
grand tableau of War never to be forgotten. Shortly after 
noon, reached the village of Urbana and found the people 
loyal and the Union flag flying from the houses, a cordial 



ITINERARY OF THE MARCH TO GETTYSBURG. 129 

welcome and cheers for the Union Army. At night 
camped on the south bank of the Monocacy two miles from 
Frederick City. Two days of delightful rest with fresh 
bread and many city luxuries from the stores of Freder- 
ick. Candy was in great demand, and a bronzed veteran 
with a stick of candy in one hand and a doughnut in 
the other was not an unusual sight. The farmers flocked 
into camp with produce, and a grateful sense of grati- 
fied hunger prevailed in the ranks. In the evening songs 
were heard from all the camps, and fires blazed all over 
the country. Everyone's spirits rose and one of the hap- 
piest nights of the march passed away. While in camp 
here General Hooker was relieved from command of the 
army, and General George G. Meade replaced him. The 
news came on Sunday morning when listening to the very 
unusual sound of the church bells coming over the fields 
from Frederick town. 

June 29th, left camp and crossed to the north bank of 
the Monocacy. Marched around the south-east side of 
Frederick City, by way of Mount Pleasant, passed through 
Liberty, Johnstown, Union Bridge and several other little 
villages. Forded innumerable streams during the day, and 
at 10 o'clock at night halted at Uniontown after making 
the longest march that the regiment was ever called upon 
to perform. 

The road was thirty-three miles long, but counting 
several halts for rest, when the troops filed into the fields 
and were massed, etc., each man could not have marched 
less than thirty-four miles. The roads were better than 
those of Virginia, but the day was warm, and, of course, 
the fatigue extreme. The march was made in exactly 
twelve hours, an average of nearly three miles an hour. 
The fact of getting into Pennsylvania during the day 
seemed to have a wonderful effect upon the spirits of all 
the men of the regiment, and frequent inquiries were made 
during the day for the State line from the farmers who 
lined the fences by the way and gazed in wonder at the 



130 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

passing column. " Where does this road run to ? " asked 
one of the men. " Oh," replied the intelligent citizen, 
"it runs right straight on! " 

June 30th, Hancock thanked the troops of the corps for 
the long march of the day before, and the regiment was 
mustered for pay. 

July ist, marched at 8 A. m., via Tarry town, and 
bivouaced within three miles of Gettysburg. 



GETTYSBURG— THE BATTLE OF THE CENTURY. 131 



CHAPTER VI. 
GETTYSBURG — THE BATTLE OF THE CENTURY. 

TN a valley full of peace, calm, comfort and content, 
overlooked by ranges of high hills — blue, purple and 
exceedingly lovely — lies the old town of Gettysburg and 
the twenty-five square miles of territory over which the 
armies of the North and South struggled and fought dur- 
ing those three terrible days of July, 1863. No more 
beautiful country than this can be found in the State of 
Pennsylvania. No matter what part of the field one visits 
scenes of loveliness open in vistas on every side. The 
tongue of wood of McPherson's farm, where Reynolds 
fell, is a fine bit of American forest ; and Willoughby Run, 
which meanders close by, and whose placid waters were 
crimsoned by the blood of brave men, is a sweet and 
charming stream where the lilies grow in shady places, 
and the birds come in springtime to build their nests 
along its banks. Then from Cemetery Hill, where the 
Union men made such a gallant stand against the"Louisiana 
Tigers ", there is a splendid view as one looks over the town 
and across the fields to the Lutheran Seminary. Culp's 
Hill, too, is full of sweet spots ; and through the dark 
forest, where the six hours' fighting took place on the 
morning of the third day, one can find much to admire, 
and many a grand old tree riddled by bullets and torn with 
shot and shell — forcible reminders of the awful morning 
of July 3d. 



132 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

And what more picturesque than the wild and rugged 
scenery of the " Devil's Den ? " Or where can one go to 
look for a grander or more sublime scene than that from 
the summit of " Little Round Top " where Vincent's men 
made their gallant fight. Gettysburg is certainly a mag- 
nificent spot, full of natural beauties ; and of the many 
battlefields of the war none more suitable could have been 
selected upon which to erect the monuments that are 
intended to commemorate the heroism and valor of our 
troops. The field is fast becoming the National Mecca, 
and year after year the number of visitors to the ground 
increases, until tens of thousands of Americans annually 
make a pilgrimage to the holy ground and worship at the 
shrine where so many noble men laid down their lives in 
defence of the State and cause. England, has her West- 
minster, France her St. Denis, Italy her Pantheon and 
Germany her Walle-Halle. Every nation of the old Con- 
tinent has some place dedicated to their noble and illus- 
trious dead. 

This country has not, as yet, reached that mature age 
when one can visit some hallowed spot set apart for the 
last resting place for the good and eminent men. In the 
State of Pennsylvania, the ground of Gettysburg is, 
however, of much greater interest, and much dearer to 
the American people than any of the celebrated sanctuaries 
of Europe. 

Glorious Gettysburg ! where five thousand of the brav- 
est and best of the soldier-citizens sleep in honored graves 
on the field their valor won, is the National Sanctuary, 
the Pantheon, the Westminster of the Republic. 

No kings, princes or potentates lie there, but five 
thousand gallant men, greater than kings, more splendid 
in their deeds and in their death than any of the princes 
or great ones who slumber within the fretted walls of 
Europe's grand Cathedrals — fathers, brothers and kinsmen, 
the men who came from eighteen states to shed their blood 
on Pennsylvania's soil in defence of the Union and human 




MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE G. MEADE. 



GETTYSBURG— THE BATTIvE OF THE CENTURY. 133 

liberty. No wonder, then, that year by year thousands of 
Americans visit the field, linger on the long line of battle, 
dwell on the memories of the fight, and meditate upon the 
heroism displayed in the battle. 

From McPherson's woods and Willoughby Run to 
Cemetery Hill, Round Top, Gulp's Hill and Rummel's 
Farm, the immense caravan of pilgrims yearly wander 
over the bloody field drawing inspirations from the green 
graves of those true heroes whose great souls went out in 
the flame of battle in the days when the National existence 
was hanging in the balance. 

Gettysburg ! What visions of those three summer days 
of July 1863 the magic word recalls. More than a quarter 
of a century has rolled away since the last shot was fired 
on the field yet to the veteran it seems but yesterday. To 
him the smoke of the guns still lingers in the valleys, the 
sound of the conflict, the roar of the artillery still echoes 
and reverberates among the verdure-clad hills. Gettys- 
burg ! the national battlefield of the war where gallant 
men from twenty-eight of the thirty-two States that then 
composed the Federal Union met in deadly conflict to 
decide by force of arms the future of the Republic, the 
only great battle of the war fought on the free soil of a 
Northern State. Fortunate indeed was the son of Penn- 
sylvania who was present in that stupendous fight ; and by 
a special Providence it would seem as though the battle 
fought on the soil should be, in a very great measure, by 
sons of the Keystone State. The eminent soldier who 
commanded the army, General George Gordon Meade, was 
a son of the State, General John Fulton Reynolds, the 
first great soldier to crimson the ground with his blood 
and give up his life in its defence, was a Pennsylvanian, 
and General Winfield Scott Hancock, " Hancock the 
Superb," he who galloped to the front at the first sound of 
strife, and who, from that hour until, in the moment of 
victory, he fell, crushed and bleeding, on the line of the 
Second Corps, did so much to win the fight, was a native 



134 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

of the grand old Commonwealth. The first regiment to 
fire a shot was the Fifty-sixth Pennsylvania Infantry. The 
First Brigade to especially distinguish itself was Roy 
Stone's, all Pennsylvanians. 

When the second day's fight opened at the Peach 
Orchard almost the first troops to meet the advancing 
host of Longstreet were the men of Graham's Brigade, 
nearly all Pennsylvanians. Later, on that same after- 
noon, when Hood's Texans climbed the slopes of Little 
Round Top, they were met by the Eighty-third Pennsyl- 
vanians, and the splendid soldier who fell there. General 
Strong Vincent, fell on his native heath. Still later on 
that day, when the terrific fighting was progressing over the 
Wheat Field and Valley of Death, McCandless, with the 
Pennsylvania Reserves, swept over the bloody ground and 
made one of the most successful charges of the afternoon. 
And when the day was far spent and darkness settled over 
the field, one of the most brilliant feats of the whole 
battle was the splendid fight of the heroic Ricketts and his 
Pennsylvania Battery, when, with iron hand, he held the 
crest of Cemetery Hill against the rush of the Louisiana 
Tigers. The morning of the third day was ushered in by 
the charge of the White Star Division commanded by 
by another son of the State, General John W. Geary ; and 
in the cavalry fight at Rummell's Farm, the greatest 
cavalry fight of the century, the Union forces was com- 
manded by another. General D. McM. Gregg. In the last 
scene of all, when Picket crashed on the left centre with 
his eighteen thousand men, Pennsylvania was everywhere 
on the line to meet him ; and the Philadelphia Brigade 
stood at the most important point on the field and gathered 
in the greenest laurels of the day. And the men of the 
One Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment have good reason 
to rejoice that their regiment had the happiness of partici- 
pating in this, the most important battle of the century, 
and performing an honorable and distinguished part 
therein. The One Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment 



GETTYSBURG— THE BATTLE OF THE CENTURY. ]35 

arrived near the field late on the evening of July ist, and 
early on the morning of the 2d moved on to the line of 
Cemetery Ridge, to the left of the Umbrella Trees. The 
division was massed in brigade columns and the men 
enjoyed a grateful rest. Arms were stacked and the colors 
lay folded on the upturned bayonets. Every movement 
of the enemy was watched with interest, and the hours 
seemed long on that bright summer day. The pickets 
were more or less engaged all the morning — sometimes 
stray shots, then again volleys, now a rattling fire all along 
the front, and smoke would be seen here and there in the 
distant foliage. The men quietly looked on and when the 
Third Corps advanced on the Peach Orchard and became 
engaged, they were deeply interested and full of admir- 
ation at the splendid spectacle ; and when they saw, in 
the distance, the Union troops recoil, and received the 
order to go to their assistance, it was a pleasure to do so. 
Quickly moving off", by the left flank, towards Little 
Round Top, the division, commanded by General John C. 
Caldwell, marched as it had stood, in brigade columns of 
regiments, closed en masse ; and as it marched the enemy's 
batteries, out by Peach Orchard, opened fire upon the 
column, but without doing much damage. The solid shot 
falling on the soft soil of a newly ploughed field threw the 
earth in showers over the men. While passing the 
Trossell House, a woman on horseback and in uniform 
galloped back from the line of battle, asked for some 
information, and quickly returned to the front again. 
She was a nurse of the Third Corps, Anna Etheridge, and 
was directing the removal of the wounded. She was cool 
and self-possessed and did not seem to mind the fire. 

As the column moved towards the left, Zook's Brigade 
was in the rear, and as that command was passing the Rose 
Farm, Colonel H. E. Tremaine, of General Sickles's staff", 
rode up to the general and requested him to halt and 
advance against the enemy who were breaking through 
the Union lines at that point. Zook at first refused to do 



136 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

SO, as he had no authority from the division commander, 
General Caldwell, who was then far in advance at the 
head of the column, but Colonel Tremaine insisted and 
gave Zook a peremptory order in the name of General 
Sickles. The gallant Zook hesitated no longer but leav- 
ing the division column he quickly formed line, dashed 
into the woods, met the enemy and began fighting, while 
the other three brigades of the division continued marching 
towards Little Round Top, unaware of the fact that Zook's 
men had left the command and were fighting all alone. 
When the three brigades arrived at the foot of the hill, 
(Little Round Top), there was a short delay ; then Cross 
deployed and went forward. Brook went in to his left, 
and the Irish Brigade counter-marched to the right, passing 
in rear of Cross, and after clearing his line, deployed and 
formed on the right of the division. As that brigade 
advanced it moved over exactly the same ground on which 
Zook's men had fought, passed over the line that they had 
reached, and struck the foe. Zook had been carried to the 
rear dying, and all the regiments of his brigade, after 
making a most gallant fight, had fallen back, and as the 
brigades of Brook, Cross and Kelly advanced and fought, 
the One Hundred and Sixteenth held the extreme right 
flank of the division line. 

The men of the regiment went in at a "Right shoulder 
shift", and, although the ground was covered with huge 
boulders interspersed with forest trees, hilly and rough, 
the alignment was well preserved, and as it neared the 
crest, met the enemy and received a volley. But the shots 
were too high and did but little damage and the men 
rushed on. Soon the lines were but a few feet apart, and 
the men returned the fire with deadly effect. Captain 
Nowlen drew his revolver and opened fire ; nearly all the 
other officers followed his example. Little Jeff" Carl killed 
a man within six feet of his bayonet. Tliat hero, Sergeant 
Francis Malin, was conspicuous by his dash and bravery, 
as his tall form towered above all around him — a noble 



GETTYSBURG— THE BATTLE OF THE CENTURY. 137 

soul. He soon fell dead with a bullet through his brain. 
For a few moments it was hand to hand, but the Confed- 
erates seemed to have no stomach for the fight ; they were 
tired, weary and glad to call "enough," surrendered and 
were sent to the rear as prisoners of war. The regiment 
had met and fought the men of Kershaw's Brigade, the 
same who, at Fredericksburg, had poured their deadly 
fire into the regiment from the stone wall at the base of 
Marye's Heights. Then the brigade was halted and 
aligned where the monuments now stand. The meeting 
of the lines was unexpected to both the Confederates and 
Union men. As the latter were moving up one side of the 
hill the Confederates were ascending the other. They 
gained the crest first and seeing the Union men so close, 
they became excited and fired too quickly, resulting in the 
volley passing overhead, and but few of the men of the regi- 
ment were injured. On the contrary, the fire of the One 
Hundred and Sixteenth was delivered with precision and 
calmness, and every shot told. The Confederates were on a 
crest while the regimental line was below them, their feet 
about on a level with the heads of the men. When the One 
Hundred and Sixteenth charged and gained the ground 
on which the enemy stood, it was found covered with 
their dead, nearly every one of them being hit in the head 
or upper part of the body. Behind one large rock five 
men lay dead in a heap. They had evidently fallen at the 
first volley and all at the same time. One of them, in his 
dying agony, had torn his blouse and shirt open, exposing 
his breast and showing a great hole from which his heart's 
blood was flowing. 

The large ball (calibre 69) and three buck shot with 
which the pieces were loaded, although a wretched am- 
munition for distant firing, was just right for close hand 
to hand work, and so, on this occasion the fire of the regi- 
ment was terrible in its effects, while the small rifle balls of 
the South Carolina men went whistling over the heads 
of the men of the One Hundred and Sixteenth. In front. 



1:58 THE STORY OF TIIR ii6th REGIMENT. 

and a little to the lij^lit, stood the Rose I^'arm House and* 
barn. Over the little valley in the immediate front one 
could see the enemy massed and preparing for another 
attack. The dead of the One Hundred and Tenth Penn- 
sylvania Volunteers lay directly in front, on the o-round 
which that command had vacated but a half hour before, 
and one youn<^ boy lay outstretched on a lar<;e rock with 
his musket still grasped in his liand, his pale, calm face 
upturned to the sunny sky, the warm blood still flowing 
from a hole in his forehead and running in a red stream 
over the gray stone. The young hero had just given his 
life for his country. A sweet, childish face it was, 
lijis parted in a smile — those still lips on which the 
mother's kisses had so lately fallen, warm and tender. 
The writer never looked on a soldier slain without feeling 
that he gazed upon the relics of a saint ; but the little boy 
lying there with his blood coloring the soil of his own 
State, and his young heart stilled forever, seemed more 
like an angel form than any of the others. 

" Somebody's watching and waiting for him, 
Yearning to hold him again to her heart ; 
And there he lies with his blue eyes dim, 
And the smiling child-like lips apart." 

As the regiment stood in line waiting for the foe in 
front to advance, a column of the enemy, supposed to be 
Senim's and WolTord's Brigades, pa.ssed through the Peach 
Orchard, formed a line in rear and began to advance just 
as the line in front began moving forward. Orders were 
given for the division to retire, and under the circum- 
stances it was done in fairly good order. 

Passing to the left and going on a run towards Little 
Round Top, through the wheat field and emerging in the 
open ground, the command gained the Tawneytown Road 
and re-formed. Captain John Teed of Company C, 
Sergeant (xcorge Halpin and a few of the men were 
captured by the enemy. Captain Teed missed the way and 



GETTYSBURG— THE BATTLE OF THE CENTURY. 139 

walked into the enemy's lines. Halpin being shot was 
nnable to get away. The fire, as the men passed through 
the wheat, was severe and destructive, and so close were the 
lines of the enemy between which the men ran, that they 
finally had to stop firing as they were hitting each other. 
Seven or eight of the men who were missing after the fight 
were probably killed in the wheat, only one of them being 
ever heard of afterwards. Young Martin Gallagher, 
whom the boys used to call "Jersey", fell at this point 
with a broken leg. It was afterwards learned that he was 
hit six or eight times after the first ball broke his leg, but 
he managed to recover from all his wounds. 

The regiment re-formed on the Tawneytown Road and 
remained near the base of Little Round Top until the 
fighting on the left was over for the day. Then when the 
sun went down, moved back with the division and formed 
on the left of the Second Corps on Cemetery Ridge, on the 
ground it had occupied in the fore part of the day. The 
lines were dressed in the twilight, and darkness settled 
down over the field. 

" The bugle sang truce 
For the night cloud had lowered, 
And the sentinel stars set their watch in the sky, 
And thousands lay down on the ground overpowered, 
The weary to sleep, 
The wounded to die." 

Daybreak, on the morning of July 3d, found Hancock 
on the line getting ready for the day that had dawned so 
brightly. He personally rectified the alignment of the 
brigade and placed the One Hundred and Sixteenth regi- 
ment to support the guns of Sterling's Second Connecticut 
Batter}^ 

All morning the men sat around calmly chewing hard 
tack and waiting for the result of the fight at Culp's Hill, 
looking over towards that high land, seeing great volumes 
of smoke arise from the timber, listening to the crash of 



140 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

the musketry, watching the streams of wounded that 
poured out of the dark woods, seeing the re-enforcements 
hurrying to the assaulted point, and joining in the glad 
cheer that at eleven o'clock announced the victory of the 
Twelfth Corps and told the army that Gulp's Hill was 
once more in possession of the Union Troops and the line 
was again intact. Then observing v/ith deep interest the 
enemy, as artillery and infantry were massed in the Union 
front for the tremendous attack on the left centre. During 
the two hours of the artillery duel that preceded Pickett's 
charge, the men hugged the ground closely and, as they 
lay in front of Sterling's guns, his fire as well as that of the 
enemy, passed over them. The position, however, was 
most favorable. The Confederate gunners evidently mis- 
understood the location of the Union line, and threw their 
shells into the edge of the woods a hundred yards in rear, 
where they burst in great numbers. The men of Company 
B, who formed the Provost Guard of the division, were 
deployed in rear of the battle line, and during the fire, 
they suffered more than the men in front. When the fire 
of the two hundred and twenty-seven guns ceased and the 
smoke cleared away, one could see the long lines of Pick- 
ett's Division and Hill's Corps advancing to the attack. 
All the Union batteries opened and played upon them as 
they advanced over the fields. They were seen to fall by 
hundreds and thousands. Sterling's men made superb 
firing, their shells bursting in the faces of the advancing 
hosts. One of the Lieutenants of the battery, a very tall 
long legged fellow, could not restrain his delight at seeing 
the excellent work that his battery was doing, and when 
he would see a good shot and his shells bursting right in 
the ranks of the Confederates, the arms and legs flying, he 
would leap up, crack his heels together, and give a great 
scream of joy. Never was there such a moment of joy 
and happiness in the ranks of the command. Thousands 
of Confederates were seen advancing to sure destruction. 
It was Fredericksburg reversed. The right flank of the 




MAJDK-GKNEKAL WINFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK. 
Commander of Second Corps. 



GETTYSBURG— THE BATTLE OF THE CENTURY. 141 

assaulting line overlapped the division, and to the right, 
their left extended as far as the eye could reach. One 
could see the whole grand sight and when Pickett struck 
the Union line and the hand to hand struggle commenced 
at the Umbrella Trees, the excitement became intense. 

The Confederate Brigade of Wilcox and Perry were 
directly in front of the Irish Brigade and it seemed 
impossible to restrain the men from firing. 

Never were the men of the regiment so eager to rush into 
the fight. Finally as the enemy's line got within a hun- 
dred and fifty yards the order " Ready! " was given. The 
men grasped their muskets prepared to fire. The foe had 
disappeared for a moment in a sharp decline of the ground. 
The men waited to seethe Confederate flags come over the 
hill, but instead of the red flag of the Confederacy a man 
crawled over the crest waving a white handkerchief, and 
ten minutes afterwards the larger part of the men of 
Wilcox's Brigade quietly walked into the Union line, as 
prisoners. Three men braver than their fellows, were seen 
running back over the fields with a stand of colors, and the 
men in admiration of their heroism, refrained from molest- 
ing them. 

The firing suddenly ceased and Gettysburg became 
the victory that marked the beginning of the end of the 
war, for at the moment when the Army of the Potomac 
was hurling back, crushed and defeated from Cemetery 
Ridge, the Army of Northern Virginia, the cannon of the 
Army of the Tennessee was hammering down the defences 
of Vicksburg, the roar of Rosencran's Artillery was rever- 
berating among the Cumberland Mountains and the Union 
lines were advancing along the Tennessee River. Vicks- 
burg fell before the dead of Gettysburg were interred ; and 
the cheers that announced the victory of the Union left 
wing in Pennsylvania found a loud echo among Grant's 
heroes of the right wing as they streamed into the 
captured city. 



142 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

During the night of this day General Lee sent his 
wounded towards the south by the Fairfield Road, and 
during the night of the fourth retired by the same route 
with his whole army. During the forenoon of the fourth 
the regiment remained in the same position. It was 
rumored that the enemy was falling back, but the Con- 
federate sharpshooters were active enough in their efforts 
to make one believe that all their army was still present. 
The rain fell in torrents. Rain ! Rain ! Why does it always 
rain after a battle ? Rain after Antietam, after Fredericks- 
burg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, as though the 
compassionate skies would weep for the fallen brave, send 
cooling showers to lave the angr}- wounds, or in sweet 
mercy hasten to wash away from the soiled earth the 
crimson stains. 

In the evening it was known that the enemy had gone, 
and the regiment left the line of battle and marched to 
Two Taverns, a most grateful change. To get away from 
the tempest-torn ground, from the foul stench and noisome 
air, from the fray and excitement and blood-red streams, 
and once more enjoy the bright green of the meadows 
freshened by the showers, to breathe pure air, and drink 
clear sparkling water, was happiness indeed. How the 
men's spirits rose! And a delightful evening marked the 
calm after the storm. The men circulated through the 
massed regiments to learn the fate of friends ; shook hands 
or wept with joy at meeting, or shed a silent tear at 
hearing of the noble end of some beloved one dead. 
While the survivors had much to regret they had also 
much to rejoice for. The Second Corps, whilst meeting 
with an appalling loss had borne a most honorable part in 
the battle. Laurels rested on every flag, and now, like a 
winged eagle, the corps had paused to take note of its 
wounds and to send forth a glad scream of victory. 
Hancock was gone, to be sure, and Zook, Cross, Shirrell, 
Kane, Tschudy, Willard, Rorty, and a host of the noblest 
and best lay with up-turned faces along Cemetery Ridge 



GETTYSBURG— THE BATTLE OF THE CENTURY. 143 

where their heroic souls had gone out in the hour of 
triumph. But the men of the Second Corps rejoiced, and 
who could object? Would not those of their comrades 
who filled the shallow graves on the line they had just 
left rejoice and be glad also if they were still alive, and 
looked upon the trophies of the fight? 

Thirty-three battle flags, six thousand prisoners and 
thirteen thousand stands of small arms was truly a bounti- 
ful harvest to be gathered by the men who wore the trefoil. 

One dusk, long summers gone, the white-cheeked moon 

Beheld this valley reel with war. But now, 
Where yon still hamlet's windows redly glow, 

At eve, the housewives gossip, or else croon 
Soft lullabies. Through the long afternoon 

The children gambol in the vale below. 

The lustrous lilies at their moorings blow. 
The mowers move with scythes in merry tune ; 

Chime faintly far from out the white church spire. 
Those evening bells ; slow moves the croaking wains, 

Down purple glens ablaze with sunset fire. 
And low-necked kine trudge home through thick-leaved lanes, 

Sweet vale, the only sword now there that's seen 

Is the moon's cimeter in skies serene. 



Report of Major St Clair A. Mulholland. 

BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 
In Camp at Sandy Hook, Md., July 17, 1863. 

Sir : I have the honor to submit the following report 
of the part taken by command in the action at Gettysburg, 
July 2d and 3d. 

After a long and fatiguing march we arrived, on the 
evening of July ist, within three miles of Gettysburg, 
and by order of General Caldwell, camped in a neighbor- 
ing field. Shortly after daylight on the morning of the 
2d, our brigade moved up upon the field in sight of the 
enemy's pickets. Our division was placed en masse in 



144 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

columns of regiments, my command being in the front 
line, stacked arms and ordered the men to rest. We 
remained in this position during the forenoon. Heavy 
firing was heard at intervals on our right but everything 
remained quiet in the vicinity until about three o'clock. 
At that time musketry commenced on our left, I think 
about three-fourths of a mile away. The firing had 
continued an hour when orders came to " fall in". We 
took arms and were marched, by the left flank, towards the 
scene of action. After marching about a mile and deploy- 
ing in line of battle, the division advanced to support, I 
think, a portion of the Third Corps which was then 
engaged. Our brigade advanced in line of battle, left in 
front gallantly led by Colonel Patrick Kelly of the 
Eighty-eighth New York. As we advanced a portion of 
the Third Corps retired, passing through the intervals of 
our line. Having entered a wood we began ascending a 
hill where large boulders and rocks impeded our progress. 
Notwithstanding, we advanced in good order. We soon 
came within sight of the enemy who occupied the crest of 
the hill, and who immediately opened-fire at our approach. 
Our men returned the fire with good effect. After firing 
for about ten minutes the order was given to advance, 
which was done in excellent style, driving the enemy from 
the position which we at once occupied. We took many 
prisoners at this point, hundreds of the enemy laying 
down their arms and going to the rear. We found the 
position that our foe had occupied a moment before thickly 
strewn with their dead and wounded. Here we again 
opened fire, the enemy having again rallied to oppose our 
further advance. After being engaged about twenty 
minutes, the enemy having been re-in forced, we began to 
retire in good order. At this time the division had been 
completely outflanked by the enemy who had formed a 
line facing the right flank and rear of our brigade. This 
line was formed along the edge of a wheat field about a 
quarter of a mile in our rear. We had to cross the field in 



GETTYSBURG— THE BATTLE OF THE CENTURY. 145 

getting away and in doing so we encountered the full 
sweep of the enemy's fire which at this point was most 
destructive and many of the division fell. 

After passing to the rear I found Colonel Brook of the 
Fourth Brigade forming the division in a field adjoining 
the Second Division Hospital. He told me that he had 
orders from General Caldwell to do so, I then halted my 
regiment and rendered all assistance possible in getting to- 
gether the members of the Second Brigade. Shortly after 
dark we were again marched to the front and placed in the 
same position that we had occupied in the morning. Here 
we lay on our arms during the night and were awakened at 
daybreak by the sound of the enemy's cannon. 

Major-General Hancock passed along early and moved 
the line a little forward in order that we might have a 
better range and our fire be more effective should the 
enemy attack us. We began entrenching, and by eleven 
o'clock had quite a formidable breastwork thrown up. All 
the forenoon we could see the enemy preparing to attack. 
Batteries were placed in position in our front and every- 
thing indicated that an attack was intended. About noon 
it commenced by a terrific shelling of our lines. After 
shelling our position for two hours the artillery fire 
slackened and a heavy force of infantry was seen advanc- 
ing. At this moment our artillery, which up to this time 
remained almost silent, opened with terrible effect upon 
the advancing lines, tearing great gaps in the ranks and 
strewing the ground with dead and wounded. Notwith- 
standing the destructive fire the enemy continued to 
advance with a degree of coolness and bravery worthy of 
a better cause, until reaching a ravine which ran parallel 
with our line, about half way between us and their artillery, 
they halted, being then under cover and no longer exposed 
to our fire. They halted but to surrender. Finding, I 
presume, that their ranks were too much thinned to think 
of charging our works, knowing the heavy loss they would 
sustain in attempting to reach their own line again, and 



146 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

thinking discretion the better part of valor, they laid down 
their arms and, almost to a man, surrendered. 

Perceiving the failure of their infantry to carry the 
position the enemy again opened their batteries, but after 
an hour's firing withdrew, leaving us victors of the field. 
During the day's fighting the heat was very great and the 
men being exposed, having neither shelter tents nor water, 
suffered intensely. The morning of the fourth found us 
victors of every part of the field. The rain fell in torrents, 
wetting every one, filling the rifle pits and making us most 
uncomfortable, but my command was very hopeful and 
bore the fatigues and sufferings incidental to a great battle 
with a cheerfulness that ever characterizes the true soldier. 
We remained in the same position until the afternoon of 
the same day and then my command, with the division, 
marched to the village of Two Taverns, where we en- 
camped for the night. 

In closing my report I cannot refrain from mentioning 
the cool and gallant bearing of my command. Of the 
officers it is almost useless for me to speak. Every one of 
them did their duty in a manner that excited my warmest 
admiration and gratitude. 

Of the enlisted men I feel happy in mentioning the 
names of Color Sergeant Abraham T. Detweiler, Sergeant 
Thos. Detweiler, Company A, and private Jefferson Carl, 
Company C, as having specially distinguished themselves 
in the action of the 2d instant. 

Respectfully submitted. 

Your obedient servant, 

St. Clair A. Mulholland, 

Major Commanding ii6th Pennsylvania Vols. 

To Captain Thomas W. Greig, 

A. A. A. 



GETTYSBURG— THE BATTLE OF THE CENTURY. 147 



NOTES ON GETTYSBURG. 

The losses in the battle were, in proportion to the 
number engaged, enormous, amounting on the Union side 
to twenty-seven per cent. ; and on the side of the Confed- 
erates to thirty-five per cent. The number of dead on the 
official reports represents but about half only of those 
slain. On the Union side, for instance, there are but 2834 
reported killed, while in the National Cemetery alone there 
are 3575 bodies interred. The names on the official return 
only include those who were killed dead in action, but 
takes no account of the vast number who died of wounds 
within ten days after the battle. If one wants to get at 
the whole number of men who lost their lives in the 
Union Army there must be added to the 3575 interred in 
the National Cemetery, at least 400, buried on different 
parts of the field, and who were never found or transferred 
to the cemetery. Four hundred more were taken home by 
their friends immediately after the battle, and several 
hundred died soon after of wounds, in the hospital, at 
Carlisle, Harrisburg and other adjacent points ; making in 
all, about 5000 Union men who lost their lives at 
Gettysburg, or as the results of that battle. The bay- 
onet, now a weapon almost obsolete in warfare, was used 
quite freely, many men and officers being killed and 
wounded in that way. Colonel Jeffers, of the Fourth 
Michigan, was bayoneted to death in the wheat field, and 
some fifty-four men fell at that point in the same manner. 
But it would seem that the soldier of our day prefers to 
kill his man in some other way. 

When the gallant Confederate, General Armistead, 
leaped over the little stone wall that served as a breast- 
work for the Philadelphia Brigade, he called to his men to 
give the Union troops the "cold steel". All in vain, 
however ; within the next five minutes that splendid 
officer and forty-two of the hundred brave men who 



148 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

followed him over the low wall, were lying dead in their 
tracks, and all the rest of the noble band were crushed 
and wounded. The bayonet, in modern warfare, is almost 
a thing of the past, and the soldier finds but little use for 
it. Certainly, there were numbers killed by it at Gettys- 
burg, but very few indeed, in comparison to the great 
number slain by the rifle and artillery. 

The sword was also used to a considerable extent. 
When the lines crashed together in the great cavalry fight 
on the third day, many men were cut down with the sabre ; 
and General Wade Hampton, now United States Senator 
from South Carolina had his face split open with a sword 
cut. But when the infantry came hand to hand, they 
seemed to rather prefer to club their muskets and dash 
each other's brains out, than to drive the cold steel into 
the bodies of their opponents ; and many men were killed 
in this manner. Lieutenant Charles Brockey crushed in a 
Confederate's skull with a rock, and Lieutenant Worcester, 
of the Seventh Louisiana Tigers, had his head smashed to 
a jelly by a hand spike in the hands of one of the gunners. 

Several men of the regiment who had been transferred 
to Battery A, Fourth United States Artillery, distinguished 
themselves in the battle, and several of them were badly 
wounded, Michael Hickey, Wm. Miller, Joseph Meander 
and John McCormick being among the latter. During 
the last moments of Pickett's charge, when Lieutenant 
Cushing ordered his last serviceable gun (the third piece) 
to be run down to the stone wall, Patrick MuUin and 
Simon Mallinger of the One Hundred and Sixteenth 
Regiment, together with a man of the battery named 
McConnell were the three cannoneers who worked the 
gun until Cushing was killed. He (Cushing) stood with 
his field-glasses raised, in the act of giving a command (he 
had been terribly wounded in the groin), when a ball 
entered his mouth and passing through, broke his neck. 
The Confederates were then pouring over the wall and 
placing their flags on the guns, and it became a hand-to- 



GETTYSBURG TO THE RAPIDAN. 149 

hand fight. When the conflict was over, Mullin, Mallinger 
and McConnell picked up Cushing's body and carried it 
to the rear. 

GETTYSBURG TO THE RAPIDAN. 

Remained in camp at Two Taverns until July 7th, then 
moved back again to Tawneytown, marching the ten miles 
on empty stomachs. The trains met the regiment there 
and rations were issued. July 8th, marched in a drench- 
ing rain to vicinity of Frederick and bivouaced within 
three miles of the town. Here the mail was distributed, 
the first since leaving Falmouth — nearly a month before. 
July 9th, resumed the march, passing through the city 
with colors unfurled, music and drums beating. The 
inhabitants crowded the streets and cheered the victors of 
Gettysburg. After passing Frederick struck the Harper's 
Ferry Road and continued along as far as Jefferson, turned 
to the right and crossed South INIountain and bivouaced 
on the heights. Resumed the march July loth passing up 
Pleasant Valley and crossing the Antietam battlefield. 
Towards evening arrived at Jones' Cross Roads and caught 
up with the enemy. The Union batteries shelled the 
woods and the regiment threw up breast-works, nth 
and 12th strengthened the works and rested, and on the 
thirteenth marched up the Williamsport Road, sometimes 
in line of battle, sometimes in column, until reaching the 
Potomac near Falling Waters and again found the enemy. 
Passed over the ground where the Fifth Michigan Cavalry 
had had a fight but an hour before, and there were plenty 
of indications that the brush was considerable of a row. 
The enemy's batteries shelled the Union troops vigorously, 
many of the shells coming from a long distance making a 
most melancholy, wailing sound, passing close to the 
men's heads and causing a lot of dodging, fortunately none 
of the men were hit. 

The enemy were found strongly entrenched on the 
Potomac, their line forming a semi-circle with the ends 



150 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

resting on the river. Next morning, shortly after day- 
break, the whole army moved on their line of works, 
crossed them and found them empty and the army of 
Northern Virginia gone and all safely across on the other 
side of the swollen stream. On the 15th, withdrew and 
moved via Antietam and South Mountain to Harper's 
Ferry. July i6th, went into camp at Sandy Hook, Md., 
under the guns of Maryland Heights. Were mustered 
for pay; made out official reports. 1 8th, marched at 
4 p. M., crossing the Shenandoah River on a wire bridge 
and encamped at Salem Church. Sunday, 19th, marched 
from 10 A. M. to 3 P. M. and bivouaced at Woodgrove. 
20th, moved to Manassas Gap and found the enemy 
in possession. After a short fight in which the Second 
Corps took part, the Gap was captured and held. The 
march was continued, and on the 25th reached Warren- 
ton ; and on the 26th, Warrenton Junction where the 
regiment went into camp until the 30th, moving on the 
31st to Elk Run, and on the 31st to Morrisville where a 
long halt was destined to be made. The march from 
Gettysburg, especially after passing Harper's Ferry, will 
be long remembered for happy days and evenings full of 
intense enjoyment. Each day's march was rarely of more 
than eight or ten miles, reaching the ground for bivouac 
early in the afternoon, and every one fresh enough to enjoy 
the delightful weather and magnificent scenery of Louden 
Valley. 

Never were the men in such health and spirits. Food 
was plentiful and even luxuries abundant. 

The country was overrun with blackberry bushes, and 
the fruit, juicy, luscious and ripe, was perhaps the greatest 
blessing that ever the men came across. The whole army 
literally feasted on blackberries. The result, health. 
Every case of diarrhoea disappeared and blackberries saved 
the lives of hundreds. Blackberries were of more value 
to the army of the Potomac than all the medical depart- 
ment. If ever there is another war let blackberries be a 



GETTYSBURG TO THE RAPIDAN. 151 

part of the daily ration. Every man of the One Hundred 
and Sixteenth will endorse that idea. 

Next to the enormous quantities of blackberries in 
Louden Valley were the numerous swarms of bees. Bees 
of all sorts — honey bees, wasps and hornets in myriads. 
On several occasions when marching in line of battle, the 
command was attacked by the angry swarms. The assault 
was more difficult to meet and endure than the charge of the 
Confederates. A cloud of the little pests making a vigor- 
ous attack on the men was really something serious. 
Many a time the ranks were broken, and veterans who 
would scorn to dodge a shell, quailed before a hornet's 
sting and fled in dismay when they heard the buzz of a 
wasp. 

The camp at Morrisville was a most happy one, and 
the evening camp fire recalled many an incident of the 
great battle just fought. Men told how they had marched 
through Pennsylvania and had been within ten miles of 
home. One man had actually stolen out of camp one 
evening, walked all night and saw his wife and children, 
rode back in his farm wagon and was in camp before his 
absence was noticed. One of the men who had been 
captured and escaped, told of a brave deed of Sergeant 
Halpin. The Sergeant had been shot through the leg and 
captured. A day or two afterwards, while on the march 
for the South, he saw a Confederate guard abusing one of 
the men who was also a captive. Halpin quickly leaped 
to his feet and knocked the Confederate down. The other 
Confederate guards* were so charmed with his pluck that 
they protected Halpin from further insult. 

During the cannonading that preceded Pickett's charge, 
General Alexander Hays was about to visit the skirmish 
line, a very hot place just at that time ; and a little Irish- 
man on a white horse was detailed to accompany him as 
orderly. The General looked at the diminutive son of the 
old sod, and judged by his appearance that he might not 
be very reliable. " Sir ", said the General, "are you sure 



152 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

you are brave enough to follow me on the skirmish line ? " 
we may be killed out there. "Gineral", replied the 
orderly, touching his cap, " go right on, sir ; go right on to 
the line. If yiz is killt out there, yiz won't be in hell five 
minutes until yiz'll hear me tappin' on the window to get 
in ". With his headquarter flag in his hand. General 
Hays rode up and down the line, leading it forward and 
urging on a good fight, and the little man on the white horse 
stuck to him like his shadow. 

Then there was a good story told about an officer of the 
regiment. On the morning of July 4th the Captain had 
walked out to a pool of water that was some distance in 
front of the line (at Gettysburg) for a wash. No sooner 
had he gotten to work than the Confederate sharpshooters 
began firing at him. One bullet came very close and 
caused him to unconsciously shy a little. Some of the 
others, who were with him, smiled at the involuntary 
movement. The captain very quietly remarked, "Ah, 
well, if the Rebs send a ball through my shirt there will 
be more lives than mine lost ! " Considering the three 
long, warm, summer weeks since anyone had a change of 
linen, how very true. 

The picket line of the Second Corps at Morrisville was 
remarkable in being ver}- long, at one time running some- 
thing like ten miles across the country. Of course, the 
posts were necessarily far apart and in fact, were placed 
just close enough to allow of the men being seen from one 
post to the next during the day. Communication was 
kept up by having a non-commissioned officer and a man 
or two patroling back and forth. The duty was pleasant 
and agreeable, but extremely dangerous. At night the 
bushwhackers would creep through the brush and get 
close to the line, and when the officer of the day would be 
passing in the dark, quietly cover him and demand his 
surrender. Several officers and men disappeared in this 
way. No matter how vigilant the men were the spies and 
bushwhackers succeeded in Sfettino- to and fro on the line. 




LIEUTENANT WILLIAM H. BIBIGHAUS. 
Died August 6th, 1863. 



GETTYSBURG TO THE RAPIDAN. 153 

One night a rush was made by a party of horsemen who 
boldly galloped past the picket line. The Union men fired 
at the sound of horses. A scream was heard, and after 
searching in the woods for some time, a young lady, 
daughter of a farmer living near by, was found in the bush 
where she had fallen from her horse. She was badly 
wounded, being shot in the thigh and the bone broken. 
She frankl}- confessed that she had been piloting a squad of 
bushwhackers through the picket line. 

But while the picket line had its drawbacks and hours 
of danger it also had its times of merriment and laughter, 
and the camp at Morrisville was a happy and agreeable one. 

August 13th the long expected and much desired order 
came that was to end the battalion and once more raise the 
command to a regimental organization. Major Mulholland 
and a detail of officers were ordered to proceed to Phila- 
delphia and recruit six new companies and fill up the four 
old ones. He started at once but when they arrived at 
Philadelphia circumstances prevented the immediate carry- 
ing out of the plan, and not until the Wilderness campaign 
was about to commence was the organization complete. 

Lieutenant William H. Bibighaus, Company C, died 
in June, 1863. He was a brave and estimable young man 
and an excellent officer, and had greatly distinguished 
himself at Fredericksburg. He was orderly sergeant of 
his company at that battle and remained alone, loading 
and firing by the stone wall after the regiment had fallen 
back. He was taken sick a few days after the battle of 
Chancellorsville and sent to the hospital at Washington 
where he died. His body was brought home and buried 
in Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia. 



154 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 



CHAPTER VII. 



BRISTOE STATION. 



^npHE regiment remained in camp at Morrisville until 
August 31st, and the long halt gave opportunity for 
much needed rest. Brigadier-General William Hays who 
had commanded the corps during July and August after 
Hancock was wounded, was relieved on August 12th, by 
General G. K. Warren, who was assigned to the command 
while General Hancock should remain absent. On August 
31st, the corps broke camp and advanced to the banks of 
the Rappahannock, but returned in three or four days to 
the camp at Morrisville without having a fight, remaining 
until September 12th, when, owing to the Confederate 
Army being weakened by the sending of nearly the whole 
of Ivongstreet's Corps to the West, it was thought a good 
opportunity to strike a blow, and the Union Army 
advanced for that purpose, the Second Corps and the 
cavalry being in the advance. Marched September 12th, 
to Rappahannock Station, crossed the river, and marched 
to Culpepper ; September 14th, to Slaughter Mountain ; 
15th, to Racoon Ford on the Rapidan, relieving the cavalry 
pickets just before dusk. The enemy's pickets could 
be seen on the other side of the stream and firing began 
promptly. The Confederates seemed mad and full of fight 
and blazed away vigorously. The useless firing across a 
river indulged in by most of the army was never relished 
by the men of the Irish Brigade, who thought it sheer 
nonsense to blaze away and keep everybody from enjoying 



BRISTOE STATION. 155 

rest and comfort without accomplishing the slightest 
result. An effort was made at once to have the firing 
cease and cook supper. Captain Granger, of the Eighty- 
eighth New York, jumped from cover, waved his sword and 
stuck it in the ground. The Southern boys understood 
the signal and inquiring " what troops ", found it was the 
Irish Brigade. A picket truce followed immediately, and 
all hands settled down to boil their coffee in peace, while 
for miles to the right and left the useless fusillade was con- 
tinued far into the night. During the i6th, and 17th, not 
a man was hit in the battalion, and the picket truce was 
honorably observed in front of the brigade, but along the 
balance of the corps front the skirmishing was lively, 
rendering the outposts most unhealthy. A number of 
sheep were captured by the men of the brigade, and to 
show their good feeling for the men on the other side of 
the river, three or four were sent over. Result, mutton 
stew on both sides of the stream. Remained on the banks 
of the river until October 5th, moved to Culpepper and 
remained until October loth, when it became apparent 
that the Confederates were moving around the right of the 
Union Army. Orders were received to move on what 
turned out to be one of the most trying campaigns ever 
experienced by the men. The information obtained by 
General Meade during the first days of the movement was of 
so vague a nature that much unnecessary marching, loss of 
rest and fatigue resulted. With eight days' cooked rations in 
haversack the battalion marched at i a.m., Sunday, October 
nth, for Brandy Station, and then on to Bealeton Station 
on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, the rear of the corps 
being covered by the cavalry which had rather a severe 
fight at Brandy Station. Erroneous information caused 
General Meade to turn and move back to Culpepper expect- 
ing to find the enemy moving on that point, so, on Monday, 
October 12th, at noon, marched back and recrossed the 
river on pontoons at Rappahannock Station, and moved on 
Brandy Station, Shortly after crossing the whole Second 



156 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

Corps advanced in line of battle across the country, making 
one of the most beautiful scenes incidental to war, but no 
enemy was found. On reaching Brandy vStation the men 
were tired and worn, and halted, expecting to pass the night 
there. Large fires soon blazed on every hill. The coffee 
boiled and the weary troops sank to a rest that was destined 
to be of short duration. Hardly had the foot-sore men 
stacked arms than it was definitely learned that the Confed- 
erate Army was passing the right of the Army of the Potomac 
on a raid towards Washington, and at eleven o'clock at 
night the worn out troops were on the road once more and 
had entered upon perhaps the most arduous march ever 
experienced by the men. Back to Bealeton, thence to 
Warrenton Junction, to Catlett's Station, Auburn, Bristoe 
and Centreville, Bealeton Station was reached and found in 
flames and some of the Union troops busy destroying 
stores and ammunition. Without a halt the column 
pushed on to Fayetteville arriving there at six o'clock on 
the morning of the 13th. A halt of an hour to cook coffee, 
and the order " Fall in " was heard again. The men had 
not closed an eye for twenty-four hours and had not even 
time to cook or eat, but the Confederates were nearing the 
Capitol, and the army had to be pushed on to outmarch, 
overtake and pass them. All day long the tired, sleepy, 
hungry men pushed on, everyone intensely nervous and 
anxious, for rumors and alarms of all sorts were flying 
along the marching column and momentary attacks were 
looked for on the left flank. The Second Corps had the 
left of the army and brought up the rear making the 
march all the more fatiguing. At nine o'clock at night 
the Second Corps bivouaced on Cedar Run near the 
village of Auburn. It was known that the Confederate 
Army was marching on a parallel line in a race with the 
Union Army for Washington. There was no time for rest 
or delay, and at the earliest dawn on October 14th, the 
column was on the move again. Fording x\uburn Creek 
or Cedar Run, the men found the water mighty cold, and 



BRISTOE STATION. 157 

pushing on a short distance halted, on Auburn Hill, 
Caldwell's Division stacked arms, gathered sticks and light- 
ing fires began cooking the marning coffee. The culinary 
duties were never finished, however, for hardly had the 
men set to work when they were astonished by a Confed- 
erate battery, atmost within a stone's-throw, opening with 
shell, w^hich knocked the coffee pots flying and scattered 
the fires. For a moment consternation and confusion 
reigned, but the veteran troops that had often been sur- 
prised before quickly ran to arms. Ricketts's Pennsylva- 
nia Battery quickly got to work, while General Alexander 
Hays's division deployed and charged the unknown and 
unexpected foes, who in a few minutes while the morning 
mists were still hanging over the scene, limbered up and 
galloped from the grounds. The sudden and unlooked for 
attack came from the force of the famous Confederate 
General J. E. B. Stewart, who had been accidentally 
caught between two columns of the Union Army, the night 
before. Hiding his men in the deep woods he remained 
quiet during the night of the 13th, but when morning 
broke on the 14th, and seeing Caldwell's men massed upon 
the exposed knoll, he could not resist the temptation of 
dosing them with shell from seven guns of Beckham's 
Battery. His two brigades of cavalry under Generals 
Gordon and Funsten quickly went to the rear when Gen- 
eral Alex. Hays deployed the third division and moved 
upon the bold cavalryman. The episode of Auburn Hill 
was a very remarkable one and cost the lives of a dozen 
men, most of whom were in the Fifty-second New York. 
They were buried where they fell and within half an hour 
from the time they were cooking their coffee. The divis- 
ion quickly took up the line of march and entered upon 
another day of extreme hard work. But no fatigue could 
daunt the spirit of the men of the Irish Brigade, and as 
they were filing on to the road they saluted the Corps Com- 
mander by going through the manual of arms as they 
marched. Warren was delighted at the exhibition of pluck 



158 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

and endurance. The day began in sunshine and the 
morning lovely. Though tired, every one was full of 
confidence and hope. Before starting on the morning 
march Lieutenant Sacriste and a large detail was made 
from the One Hundred and Sixteenth, for picket, skir- 
mishing and flankers, and as the Irish Brigade was rear 
guard of the whole army, the duties of October 14th, 
became ardous indeed. Even as the men of Caldwell's 
Division were lighting the fires on Auburn Hill, Ewell's 
Confederate Corps was deploying in line of battle to strike 
and as the rear of the troops passed on towards Catlett's 
Station, they moved on the Union picket line. Colonel 
James A. Beaver, of the One Hundred and Forty-eighth 
Pennsylvania Volunteers, was division officer of the day, 
and with the picket of Caldwell's division succeeded not 
only in beating off the attack, but actually held Bwell in 
check until all the Union troops and trains were passed in 
safety. Lieutenant Sacriste covered himself, and the men 
of the One Hundred and "Sixteenth, who were with him, 
with glory, and for the brilliant fight that he made he was 
afterwards awarded a Congressional medal of honor. 

It is as well, however, to let Colonel Beaver and 
General Warren tell the story in their own way : 

"During the retrograde movement of the Army of the 
Potomac from the neighborhood of Culpepper, Va., to Bull 
Run, in the autumn of 1863, I was commanding the One 
Hundred and Forty-eighth Regiment Pennsylvania Vol- 
unteers, in the Third Brigade, First Division, Second 
Corps. Our corps was in the rear during the movement, 
and on the 13th of October, our division the rear of the 
corps. After going into camp on the night of the 13th, a 
heavy detail was made from the division for picket duty, 
and I was appointed Officer of the Day. On the morning 
of the 14th of October, after the division had marched, the 
enemy unexpectedly appeared in the front of our picket 
line, turning our flank, and attacked the division which 
had crossed Auburn Creek and was engaged in cooking 




MAJOR-GENERAL GOUVKRXEUR K. WARREX. 
Commanded Second Corps, from August 12th, 1863 to March 24th, 1S64. 



BRISTOE STATION. 159 

breakfast. The wagon train had not entirely passed, and 
General Warren, then in command of the Second Corps 
gave me verbal directions to hold the crest of the hill 
above the road, at all hazards, until the wagons had all 
passed. We succeeded in doing this, but by the time the 
train had passed the ford by which the division and train 
had crossed, the creek was in the possession of the enemy. 
When I made the discovery, I had already commenced to 
withdraw the picket line — a detachment of the One Hun- 
dred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, under an 
officer who I have learned was Lieutenant Louis J. Sacriste 
had reported to me — and in order to save them and the 
other detail from destruction or capture, it became 
necessary to cross the creek south of the ford and march 
diagonally across the country to rejoin the division. 

In order to apprise the officers in command of the 
detail from other regiments of their danger and of the 
route of our march, I requested Lieutenant Sacriste to 
proceed to the line which was then engaged and give 
direction to them. This service he performed very satis- 
factorily, and as a consequence we withdrew our line 
without loss and completely circumvented the enemy in 
their evident design of capturing our pickets". 

James A. Beaver. 

Formerly Col. 148th Reg. P. V. Bvt. Brig.-Gen. U. S. V. 

From Major-General G. K. Warren: 

Newport, R. I., October 8th, 1881. 
Colonel Beaver's statements of events are in accordance 
with my recollections which are very fresh. I witnessed 
the withdrawal of his pickets, after covering the crossing 
of both trains and the cavalry (which had also defended 
the crossing with much gallantry), hard pressed by an 
overwhelming force of the enemy, who had been held in 
check by the first division pickets of the Second Army 
Corps, until we had completed the dispositions of a new 



160 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

line of battle, which the enemy dared not attack. It was 
one of the finest instances of effective picket and skirmish 
work I have ever witnessed, and I should accord you all 
the credit that General (then Colonel) Beaver accords. 

Very respectfully, 

G. K. Warren. 

The fight of the rear-guard did not end at Auburn, but 
continued all day and far into the night. All day long the 
Confederate and Union armies rushed on in parallel lines, 
in the wild race for Washington, and all day long the fight 
kept up between the flankers of the two columns on the 
skirmish line, but in the rear, where the Irish Brigade was 
covering the retreat, the firing was heavy and continuous. 
The march of the main column was fully protected by the 
flankers, and not a wagon, ambulance, mule, or even a 
harness buckle, was left on the road. Towards four 
o'clock in the afternoon, ominous sounds were heard from 
the front and the roar of battle came on the cool autumn 
air. It was the Confederate corps of A. P. Hill striking 
the head of the Second Corps column at Bristoe Station 
in an effort to cut off the rear guard of the army. The 
fight at Bristoe was short but full of stirring incidents. 

The Second Corps of the Union army met and fought 
and threw back the corps of A. P. Hill, while that of 
Ewell was preparing to close on the rear and was held back 
by the skirmish line alone. The One Hundred and Six- 
teenth Regiment being the extreme rear, reached the field 
last and was, with the exception of a color guard, at once 
sent to the skirmish line to join the men of the regiment 
who had been acting as flankers during the day. The 
men went out at dusk in a beautiful line and attacked the 
sharpshooters who were hidden in the trees, and the firing 
continued until dark. Captain Willauer riding out to visit 
the picket managed to lose his way and found himself 
among the Confederate cavalry in rear of their picket 



BRISTOE STATION. 161 

line. He quietly rode among them nntil he got his bear- 
ings, and then making a break for his own line, succeeded 
in getting away safely. In the darkness it was impossible 
to tell friend from foe, and no one in Confederate ranks 
suspected for a moment that a Union officer was riding 
among them. 

At midnight the corps having all been withdrawn, the 
Irish Brigade that had been left alone to hold the picket 
line for a long time after all had gone, with instructions to 
bolt in a hurry when they did go, started to follow, falling 
back from the picket line with great caution and in silence, 
taking up the double-quick after being clear of the field 
and keeping it up for an hour. Then the rain began 
falling and the darkness became intense. All night the 
march continued and at daylight ended on the heights of 
Centreville. The race was won and the Capitol saved. 
The members of the One Hundred and Sixteenth never did 
harder service than on this short campaign. The fatigue 
was something extraordinary and the demand on the 
endurance of the men out of all reason, yet was borne 
cheerfully. Many fell out of the ranks from sheer exhaus- 
tion, were left in the rear and never heard of again, Some 
were known to have been picked up by the enemy, sent to 
the southern prisons and died there. 

Here is an old letter written by Captain O'Grady, of the 
Eighty-eighth New York, that sums up in a few words the 
Bristoe campaign : 

CAMP EIGHTY-EIGHTH N. Y. S. V. (IRISH BRIGADE), 

Near Centreville, Va., (^ctober i6lh, 1863. 

Dear Dick : Adventures again. On the 9th we came back from 
the Rapidan to Culpepper, on the nth marched back past Culpe,pper, 
covered the retreat of the arm}' across the Rappahannock, on the 12th 
recrossed the Rappahannock, driving the enemy six miles, at i o'clock 
on the morning of the 13th retreated, still last of the army, to Bealeton 
Station, continued marching to Sulphur Springs, found the enemy there, 
back to Bealeton, thence to Warrenton, thence to Auburn — a very 
roundabout course to cover the movements of the other four corps — 



162 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

some thirty-three miles without a halt. On the 14th were shelled at 
breakfast by the advance of the enemy, fought six hours in retreat, 
capturing the iirst battery by a coup de main, encountered them ten 
miles further on at Bristoe Station, fought, with two divisions, the whole 
of A. P. Hill's corps, held our position till after midnight, Irish Brigade 
last, alone and unsupported, till the others were at a safe distance, then 
a double quick for twelve miles, crossing Deep Run and Bull Run, where 
we halted, a march of 76 miles in §6 hours, fighting two severe engage- 
ments in one day, and having to guard the entire baggage and reserve 
artillery of the army. This is unprecedented in the annals of war, 
beating the famous march of the Fifty-second to Talavera. We captured 
two colors, five guns and four hundred and fifty prisoners, and lost 
nothing. Yesterday our pickets were engaged by the advance of the 
enemy and simultaneously on their right flank, where were concentrated, 
by easy marches from the Rappahannock, the First, Sixth, Third and 
Fifth Corps, opened a terrific roar of artillery — we were merely a decoy 
for them, and were temporarily sacrificed to Meade's plans— in two hours 
this flank and (by this time) rear attack smashed the enemy and they 
were off" routed ; 20,000 cavalry started in pursuit. A congratulatory 
order was to-day read to the whole army, recounting the exploits of the 
Second Corps, and thanking us for our endurance, gallantry, etc. 
When I said we lost nothing, of course there were casualties on both 
sides, rebels losing six to one, but no baggage, barring a few wagons, 
that a few negro teamsters deserted, cutting the traces and escaping on 
the mules ; the wagons and the rebels who took them were recaptured, 
and the niggers will be shot. The season is getting late and we will, I 
fancy, go into winter quarters ; the Second Corps after its terrible march 
will not follow the retreat, besides the others are much nearer the 
enemy. This is the most decisive campaign of a few days that I believe 
was ever fought, the rapidity of each blow at the enemy was only 
equalled by its success. * * * It 's pitch dark now and I have no 
candle * * * 

The writer was wrong in some of his conclusions. The 
army did not go into winter quarters as early as expected, 
and another short but severe campaign had to be passed 
through before the long rest. 

Before daylight on the morning of the i5tli, the men 
sank on the wet ground at Bull Run and were asleep 
almost before they touched the earth. They were quickly 
awakened by the booming of cannon and at six o'clock 
formed line of battle. Reports were rife about the remark- 
able way that Meade had drawn Lee away from his base, 



BRISTOE STATION. 163 

got in his rear and was pounding the remains of the Army 
of Northern Virginia. The boys believed the story for 
quite a while and thought Meade's strategy immense, and 
the men of the One Hundred and Sixteenth were greatly 
pleased at the following eulogistic order : 

Headquarters, Army of the Potomac, 

(General Orders, No. 96.) ^^^^^^^^ ^5tli, 1863. 

The Major General commanding announces to the army 
that the rear guard, consisting of the Second Corps, was 
attacked yesterday while marching by the flank. 

The enemy, after a spirited contest, was repulsed, 
losing a battery of five guns, two colors, and four hundred 
and fifty prisoners. The skill and promptitude of Major 
General Warren and the gallantry and bearing of the 
officers and soldiers of the Second Corps are entitled to 
high commendation. 

By command of 

Major General Meade. 
S. Williams, 

Assistant Adjutant General. 

Having had such a tough time as rear guard, marching 
and fighting, it was thought that the Second Corps would 
now be on reserve, but all hands had great hopes that they 
would be allowed to have a whack at the final victory. 
These were fairy tales that a few short hours dispelled, 
and the sad truth dawned that the army had simply fallen 
back to check-mate a move of the enemy that threatened 
the National Capital. October 15th, i6th and 17th the 
army remained at Centreville. The men of the One 
Hundred and Sixteenth resting, eating and sleeping. 
Sleeping ! Would the}- ever get enough sleep to make up 
for the week just passed. One officer was missing from 
the roll call when the short campaign was ended ; Adjutant 
John A. Dorwart had become panic stricken at Auburn 



164 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT, 

and had fled to the rear when Stewart hurled his shells 
into the early morning bivouac. He returned to the 
command some days afterwards, was promptly placed 
under arrest, court-martialed and dismissed in disgrace. 
October 19th, marched to Bristoe Station. On 21st and 
22d, camped at Auburn, the scene of the early morning 
alarm. October 23d, moved to Turkey Run, and went 
into camp near Warrenton, and remained, drilling and 
recuperating, until November 7th. Broke camp and 
marched to Kelley's Ford on the Rappahannock, passing 
en route, through Warrenton Junction, Bealeton and 
Morrisville. Crossed the river next morning ; the Second 
Corps in support of the Third Corps that had crossed 
the evening before, securing several hundred prisoners. 
November 8th, established camp on the north side of 
Mountain Run on Shakelsforde Farm ; and here, on 
November 9th, General Thomas Francis Meagher visited 
the camp of the Irish Brigade. He was in citizen's dress. 
Everyone was delighted to see and welcome their old 
commander and for several days there was a first class 
jollification. November loth, moved to south side of 
Mountain Run, about four miles from the Rappahannock, 
where the brigade was reviewed by Marshall Prim of the 
Spanish army, who expressed his high appreciation of the 
brigade. He was but repeating compliments that he had 
given the commander a year previously on the Peninsula. 
November 15th, orders to be ready to move at a moment's 
notice. November 19th, orders to draw eight days' rations, 
and continual rumors and frequent alarms notwithstanding 
which the pleasant Autumn days were full of enjoyments, 
and the men of the Irish Brigade indulged in camp sports 
and horse racing to an unlimited extent. The roads were 
bad but an excellent track was found on the farm of John 
Minor Botts. November 25th, broke camp, and leaving 
horse racing and sport behind, started on the Mine Run 
campaign. Marched to the Rapidan and crossed at Ger- 
mania Ford, advanced to Robertson's Tavern and threw up 



BRISTOE STATION. 165 

entrenchments on the hills, slept on arms but were not 
attacked. Roll call at daybreak, November 27th, and after 
coffee, moved up the road and took up a position in a wood, 
the edge of which rested on Mine Run, Colonel Peel, of 
the British Grenadiers, son of Sir Robert Peel, a guest of 
General Meade, stood by the brigade for an hour or so 
chatting with the officers, some of whom had good whiskey 
in their canteens while the Colonel had some excellent 
cigars, and the interview was enjoyed by all. The frag- 
rance of the consoling weed and an uncorked canteen is 
calculated to make friends even of hereditary enemies, and 
the Peelers of the old country were forgotten on the 
battlefield of the new. A day or two afterwards, on the 
picket line. Colonel Peel had the visor of his forage cap 
knocked off by a sharpshooter. November 28tli, moved 
still nearer to the front and spent the day in a drenching 
rain waiting for orders to attack. Heavy skirmishing all 
day where the army was massed in front of the enemy's 
position behind Mine Run. No general attack was deemed 
advisable as the works of the Confederates seemed impreg- 
nable, but General Meade concluded to turn the right of 
the Confederate line, and after dark the turning column 
started under command of General Warren. The sixteen 
thousand men and three batteries moved during the night 
of the 28th and during the 29th, the roads were heavy, in 
fact, in a frightful condition, and the progress slow ; and it 
was not until sun-down that the extreme right of the 
enemy was reached, three miles beyond Hope Church. 

The Second Corps found the enemy and at once formed 
for the attack. Colonel Brynes of the Twenty-eighth Mass- 
achusetts in command of the skirmishers of Caldwell's 
division, pushed his men against a regiment that was 
deployed to protect the Confederates who were construct- 
ing the works, and, with a rush, drove them into their 
entrenchments, capturing some prisoners. For a short 
time nearly all of the One Hundred and Sixteenth 
Regiment and the balance of the brigade were hotly 



166 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

engaged, and had an hour more of daylight been granted 
to the Union forces, a victory of no small magnitude would 
have been within reach, but the daylight was almost gone, 
and the darkness gathered over the field before anything 
more could be done, other than pushing close to the works 
that the Confederates were busy strengthening. The night 
settled down intensely cold, and the men wet to the skin, 
and their feet soaked, spent a few of the most miserable 
hours of the whole three years. More deaths resulted 
from that one night's exposure than were lost in many 
a battle of magnitude. It was a night of anxiety as well 
as great physical suffering. Every one expected a bloody 
sun-rise on the morn, and the dawn was awaited in expect- 
ation of the roar of battle beginning with the daylight. 
Daybreak came, and then full light, but no orders to rush 
on the opposing line. The cold had steadily increased 
during the night and the air was biting and piercing. All 
night long the enemy had labored with zeal to make their 
works formidable, and the morning found them of such a 
character that to move against them would be worse 
than madness ; it would be slaughter of men without a 
shadow of hope of success. With a courage greater than 
required to attack. General Warren concluded to abandon 
the attempt and the turning movement in which so much 
hope was centered, was at an end. It meant the finale of 
the eflfort of General Meade to surprise the enemy and 
nothing was left but to withdraw from his front and go 
into winter quarters. 

REORGANIZATION OF THE REGIMENT. 

On November 30th, by special request of General 
Warren, the Irish Brigade was detailed as guard of the 
ammunition train, and in the evening started on that duty, 
marched all night, recrossed the river at Ely's Ford, and 
went into camp at Mountain Run. After resting here for 
several days moved to vicinity of Stevensburg, three miles 



REORGANIZATION OF THE REGIMENT. 167 

from Brandv Station and beean erectino- huts for winter 
quarters. The Bristoe Station and Mine Run Campaigns 
were movements full of great fatigue and suffering that 
tested the endurance of the men to the utmost. The loss 
in battle to the battalion was small but many succumbed to 
the terrible strain of the long marches and exposure. 
Quite a number of the men were missing on each cam- 
paign who have never turned up again or who were only 
heard of afterwards as dying in Southern prisons. 

At Mine Run, as at Bristoe, almost the entire One 
Hundred and Sixteenth Battalion was detailed on the 
skirmish line, and only a guard left with the colors. It 
was noticed that the Confederate prisoners taken at Mine 
Run were very young and poorly clad and equipped. 
They were mostly from North Carolina and many of them 
seemed almost glad to be captured. 

The winter months of 1863 and '64 passed away in 
picket, drill, reviews and all the other incidents of camp 
life, each day like the preceding one. Christmas and New 
Year's came and passed with the usual cheer and boxes of 
good things from home. February 6th, Captain and 
Brevet-]\Iajor Seneca G. Willauer was transferred to the 
Sixth Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps and Captain 
Garrett Nowlen succeeded him in command of the regi- 
ment. Major Mulholland was in command of Camp 
Cadwallader at Philadelphia during the early winter 
months, and soon after the New Year of 1864 received per- 
mission to recruit six new companies and so raise the 
battalion to a full regiment. Recruiting was actively 
commenced not only in Philadelphia but in Pittsburg and 
in Fayette and Schuylkill Counties. Richard C. Dale, of 
Allegheny County, was appointed by Governor Curtin 
Lieutenant Colonel, and he took personal charge of the 
organization of three of the new companies, "H", "P', and 
"K". The two first were raised in Pittsburg and vicinity, 
while Company K, was recruited in Uniontown, Fayette 
County, Company E, was recruited in Philadelphia, and 



168 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

F, and G, in Schuylkill County. The men enlisted in 
Philadelphia over and above the number necessary for 
Company E, were placed in four old companies A, B, C, 
and D, to fill them up. 

On February 25th, 1864, the first detachment of recruits 
arrived at the Regimental Camp and were assigned to 
Companies A, B, C, and D, and from that date new men 
were received daily. Finally on May 3d, the Regimental 
Organization was completed, and the One Hundred and 
Sixteenth ceased to be a battalion. The Roster of the 
Organization was as follows : 

ROSTER. 

Colonel, St. Clair A. Mulholland Philadelphia. 

Lieutenant Colonel, Richard C. Dale Pittsburgh. 

Major, John Teed Berks County. 

Adjutant, Louis J. Sacriste Philadelphia. 

Quartermaster, Richard Wade Philadelphia. 

Surgeon, William B. Hartman Elk County. 

Sergeant, Major William J. Burke Philadelphia. 

Quartermaster Sergeant, George McMahon . . . Philadelphia. 

Commissary Sergeant, Daniel Reen Philadelphia. 

Hospital Steward, Frederick Wagner Philadelphia. 

Principal Musician, T. W. Vanneman Chester County. 

Company A. 

Captain, William H. Hobart Montgomery County. 

First Lieutenant, George Halpin Philadelphia. 

Second Lieutenant. Vacant. 

Company B. 

Captain, Francis E. Crawford Philadelphia. 

First Lieutenant, Thomas McKnight Philadelphia. 

Second Lieutenant. Vacant. 

Company C. 

Captain, Henry D. Price Montgomery County. 

First Lieutenant, Abraham L. Detweiler .... Montgomery County. 
Second Lieutenant. Vacant. 

Company D. 

Captain, Garrett Nowlen Philadelphia. 

First Lieutenant, Eugene Brady Philadelphia. 

Second Lieutenant. Vacant. 



reorganization of the regiment. kjo 

Company E. 

Captain, Michael Schoales Philadelphia. 

First Ivieuteiiant, Robert J. Grogan .-. . . . . .Philadelphia. 

Second Lieutenant, Charles Cosslett Philadelphia. 

Company F. 

Captain, Wellington Jones , Schuylkill County, 

First Lieutenant, Peter H. Frailey Schuylkill County. 

Second Lieutenant, William A. Shoener .... Schuylkill County. 

Company G. 

Captain, Frank R. Lieb Schuylkill County. 

First Lieutenant, Francis McGuigan Philadelphia. 

Second Lieutenant, Samuel G. Vanderheyden . . Schuylkill County. 

Company H, 

Captain, David W. Megraw Allegheny County. 

First Lieutenant, Robert J. Alston Allegheny County. 

Second Lieutenant, Thompson W. Smith .... Allegheny County. 

Company I. 

Captain, Samuel Taggart Allegheny County. 

First Lieutenant, William O'Callaghan Philadelphia County. 

Second Lieutenant, Joseph W. Yocum Montgomer)' County. 

Company K, 

Captain, John R. Weltner Fayette County. 

First Lieutenant, James D. Cope Fayette County. 

Second Lieutenant, Zadock B. Springer Fayette County. 

The regiment started on the campaign of 1864 with but 
one surgeon, whereas the organization was entitled to 
three, but doctors were getting scarce after the war had 
been in progress for three years and the One Hundred and 
Sixteenth was not the only regiment that had but one. 
The medical staff were badly needed in the last year of the 
war, more so than at any other period but the demand had 
exhausted the supph'. 

The departure of the new men and companies for the 
front, gave rise to many of those thrilling heart-rending 
scenes that were witnessed in every part of the country in 
the early days of the war. The feeling was more intensi- 
fied than at first, because the participants had learned, by 
sad experiences, that for many the parting meant "forever", 



170 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

and those going to the front in 1864 were so young. It 
was the men who went in '61. The school-boys filled 
the ranks in '64. The large majority of the new soldiers 
who filled the ranks of the One Hundred and Sixteenth 
were innocent of a beard, but they were the bravest and 
best, and it was so very, very sad for the mother to give 
them up. She was proud of her soldier boy to be sure, 
but who can fathom the sorrow of a mother's heart when, 
kissing her son for the last time, she sends him away to 
face death in all its various forms. Every one of the new 
members of the regiment left mothers, sisters and friends 
behind to pray for them, to weep for them, and cherish for- 
ever the memory of those who in many instances never 
came back. It is not possible to record in these pages 
all the sad partings incidental to the re-formation of 
the regiment, but we will speak of one company, a fair 
sample of all the others. Company K, was recruited in 
Fayette County, and on a beautiful spring evening the 
company marched to the railroad depot in Uniontown to 
take the cars for the seat of the war. The little city had 
sent hundreds of others during the previous three years, 
and hardly a family but had passed through seasons of 
sorrow and the crape had floated from many a door bell for 
the soldiers who would never return. Nearly every able 
bodied man was at the front already, and now all the 
schools were being deserted to swell the army. All the 
town turned out to see the last company leave for the field. 
The train was waiting and the local band that escorted the 
company ceased to play when the depot was reached. The 
ranks were broken to allow the leave taking, every one of 
the boys had been loaded with all the tokens of affection 
and things of usefulness that love could suggest, and all 
that remained was to exchange the last embrace, the last 
loving, heartfelt kiss, and say farewell. Then the cars 
moved off amid sobs and tears, the band played a farewell 
salute, cheers mingled with the mother's subdued weeping, 
and the train was soon out of sight. The crowd slowly 



REORGANIZATION OF THE REGIMENT. 171 

dispersed, each one going to the lonely home to think of 
the boy who, living or dead would be, for all time to come, 
the idol and the hero of the family. Company K, left 
Uniontown with eighty-one in the ranks. Within one 
year twenty were killed in battle or had died of wounds. 
Eight had died of disease and four had died in southern 
prisons. Thirty-two out of eighty-one were sleeping in 
soldiers' graves. Of those still alive at the end of the year 
twenty-two had been badly wounded and four had been 
transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps on account of 
disease. 

No wonder that those left behind waited in sorrow for 
the end. Those who were actively engaged at the front 
suffered but little compared with those who were left at 
home. 

The maid who binds her warrior's sash 

With smile that well her pain dissembles, 
While beneath the drooping lash 

One starry teardrop hangs and trembles, 
Though heaven alone records the tear, 

And fame shall never know her story — 
Her heart has shed a drop as dear 

As e'er bedewed the field of glory. 

The wife who girds her husband's sword 

'Mid little ones who weep or wonder, 
And braveh^ speaks the cheering word, 

What though her heart be rent asunder. 
Doomed nightly in her dreams to hear 

The bolts of death around him rattle. 
Hath shed as sacred blood as e'er 

Was poured upon the field of battle. 

The mother who conceals her grief 

While to her breast her son she presses, 
Then breathes a few brave words and brief. 

Kissing the patriot brow she blesses. 
With no one but her secret God 

To know the pain that weighs upon her, 
Sheds holy blood as e'er the sod 

Received on freedom's field of honor. 



172 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



THE WILDERNESS. 



/^N May ist, a heavy storm of rain and wind swept over 
^^^ the camp at Brandy Station, blowing down the tents 
and wrecking- the winter quarters. Every one set to work 
to repair the damage but before the tents were well up again 
orders came to move. Then a day of perfect quiet and 
rest. Never a day of more portentous and absolute calm 
in the army than that of May 2d, 1864. No drills, reviews 
or work of any kind. The lion was about to emerge from 
his lair and leap upon his foe, and paused to gather 
strength for the spring ; and when the shadows fell on the 
evening of May 3d the great army silently withdrew from 
the old camps where it had spent the winter, leaving the 
camp fires burning, and the long lines mo\'ed towards the 
fords of the Rapidan. Quietly stealing along in the night 
through the deep forest, the regiment crossed the stream at 
Ely's Ford, and at noon on May 4th, halted on the open 
ground around the ruins of the Chancellorsville House 
where the Second Corps was massed. Pickets were thrown 
out, a battery placed in position covering the plank road 
that led to Fredericksburg, arms stacked, the roll called in 
each company (and not one man was missing), an order 
from General Meade was read. 

Address of General Meade. 

Headquarters Army of the Potomac, May 4th, 1864. 

Soldiers : Again you are called upon to advance upon 
the enemies of your country. The time and occasion are 
deemed opportune by )our commanding general to address 




IN THE WILDERNESS-Thirty years after. 



THE WILDERNESS. 173 

you a few words of confidence and caution. You have been 
reorganized, strengthened and fully equipped in every 
respect. You form a part of the several armies of your 
country — the whole under an able and distinguished 
general, who enjoys the confidence of the government, the 
people and the army. Your movement being in co-opera- 
tion with others, it is of the utmost importance that no 
effort should be spared to make it successful. 

Soldiers, the eyes of the whole country are looking 
with anxious hope to the blow you are about to strike in 
the most sacred cause that ever called men to arms. 
Remember your homes, your wives and children ; and bear 
in mind, the sooner your enemies are overcome the sooner 
you will be returned to enjoy the benefits and blessings of 
peace. Bear with patience . the hardships and sacrifices 
you will be called upon to endure. Have confidence in 
your ofiicers and in each other. 

Keep your ranks on the march and on the battlefield, 
and let each man earnestly implore God's blessing and 
endeavor by his thoughts and actions to render himself 
worthy of the favor he speaks. With clear conscience and 
strong arms, actuated by a high sense of duty, fighting to 
preserve the government and die institutions handed down 
to us by our forefathers, if true to ourselves, victory under 
God's blessing must and will attend our efforts. 

George G. Meade, 

Major-General Commanding. 

S. Williams, 

Assistant General, 

And then another quiet evening of peace and rest. 
Hancock, surrounded by his staff, lay under the apple 
trees in the orchard, on the ground where Leppine's guns 
stood firing just a year before that very day. The general, 
tapping his boot with his whip, chatted of the year gone 
by. Memories, reminiscences, jokes and merry laughter 
passed the hours away. A gay and happy group it was, 



174 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

full of life, hope and sans souci, as though it were an 
excursion of pleasure, instead of the most awful and fierce 
campaign of the war on which they were starting. The 
Chancellorsville House still lay a mass of unsightly ruins. 
The debris of the battery still remained scattered over the 
ground. Broken wheels, shattered poles, pieces of ammu- 
nition chests, bursted shells, bones of horses, remnants of 
blankets, canteens, bits of leather, rotting harness, etc., 
mingled in dire confusion. In the evening, after rest- 
ing, when the rations had been distributed, officers and 
men strolled around examining the ground on which they 
had been fighting that day a year ago. The apple trees 
and lilies bloomed again. Pink and white roses struggled 
to life in the trampled garden of the old homestead and the 
fragrance of May filled the air. The old members of the 
regiment took great pleasure in imparting to the new men 
the particulars of the battle and showing them how the 
battery was saved. The boys fresh from home, who had 
not yet heard the sound of a hostile gun were full of curi- 
osity, and took great interest in everything. The evidence 
of the fight was so strongly visible that the scene imj^ressed 
them deeply. The burnt and crumbling buildings, trees 
torn and rent, the ground strewn with debris, told in mute 
but terribly strong language of the carnage and storm. 
The shallow graves of the men of the brigade were dis- 
covered and, much to the delight of men, were found 
overgrown with wild flowers and forget-me-nots. When 
Lieutenant Colonel Dale noticed the profusion of the little 
blue flower he was deeply effected. He stood gazing upon 
the ground, wrapped in thought, and spoke in a strangely 
poetic strain of the goodness of the Creator in covering 
with beauty and perfume the last resting places of those 
brave men. He lingered there on that sweet spring even- 
ing and talked of the matter for a long time, and finally 
began writing a letter to a Pittsburg paper, describing the 
scene and telling of the forget-me-nots. Gentle, noble 
soul ! Within ten days he also filled a soldier's grave, and 



THE WILDERNESS. 175 

if the God who sends the flowers in spring casts them over 
the last resting place of brave men in proportion to the 
soldier's merits, then indeed the unknown grave of Colonel 
Dale must be covered with the choicest bloom that nature 
.yields in very great abundance. 

Another night of calm and rest, the men sleeping 
soundly on the graves of their comrades who had been lying 
there since the battle of a year ago. Reveille awoke the 
troops for the opening day of the Wilderness campaign. 
The orders were for the Second Corps to move to Shady 
Grove Church on the Catharpin Road, but after passing 
Todd's Tavern orders were received to move to the support 
of the Sixth Corps. Then several hours of anxious waiting 
and countermarching. The day became warm and water 
could not be found. No time for coffee or a halt sufiiciently 
long to allow for cooking. Three o'clock in the afternoon 
found the command moving on the Brock Road, down 
which the enemy were reported to be marching. 

The country where the regiment was now to fight was 
very appropriately called the Wilderness, a mineral region 
where both gold and iron are found, abounding in game 
and densely wooded. The roads simply consisted of nar- 
row lanes cut through the forests and, in some cases, 
covered with planks or hewn logs. The Brock Road, 
where the Second Corps formed line on the afternoon of 
May 5th, was of this nature, the woods on each side being 
dense and almost impenetrable. The preparations for the 
fight were noiseless. The enemy were within sound 
although could not be seen, and bullets whistled through 
the trees telling of their presence. Quickly the advance 
was ordered. Getty's division of the Sixth Corps was 
already advancing on the right and Hancock was not slow 
to support him. 

The advance in line was more than difficult — almost 
impossible. The undergrowth was so dense that regimen- 
tal commanding officers could not see half their own line. 
One regiment pushed forward and struck the enemy after 



176 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

advancing about three hundred yards. A clash of mus- 
ketry, and the campaign of '64 began. The ground on 
which the regiment fought was just to the left of the 
abandoned gold mines. The decaying timbers of the 
miners' cabins were scattered through the dense woods, 
and great cavities still existed showing the position of the 
ancient mining shafts. In the regimental line there were 
six hundred new men, or rather should one say, boys, for 
but few, but very few, bearded faces were seen in the 
ranks. Fayette, Allegheny, Chester and Schuylkill Coun- 
ties of Pennsylvania State had emptied their school houses 
to furnish recruits. Ah, what young, bright, childish 
faces, full of sweetness, smiles, enthusiasm and hope. 
Not a cheek blanched, not a coward in all the noble band. 
Six hundred boys, with less than two months of drill or 
discipline, in their first battle, yet as steady, confident and 
reliable as the oldest veterans. The surrounding circum- 
stances were of the most trying nature. The crash of 
musketry filled the woods, the smoke lingered and clung 
to the trees and underbrush and obscured everything. 
Men fell on every side, but still the regiment passed 
steadily on. One by one the boys fell, some to rise no 
more ; others badly wounded, but not a groan or com- 
plaint, and a broad smile passed along the line when 
Sergeant John Cassidy, of Company E, found fault, 
because when shot through the lungs, he had to walk off 
without assistance, some one said to him : " Why, Cassidy, 
there's a man with all of his head blown off and he is not 
making half as much fuss as you are " ! 

The regiment was detached from the Irish Brigade in 
the first day of the Wilderness and sent to the support of 
General Miles' Brigade. Towards dusk in returning to 
join its own brigade and when marching along in column 
of fours in rear of the line, a gap was discovered in the 
line of battle and without waiting for orders the One 
Hundred and Sixteenth promptly moved in and filled it. 
It was a most important service and recognized as such by 




BRIGADIER-GENERAL THOMAS A. SMYTH. 



THE WILDERNESS. 177 

General Barlow. A Confederate force was at the moment 
moving towards the opening but seeing the well dressed 
ranks of the One Hundred and Sixteenth halted, and after 
the exchange of shots, fell back, just as the One Hundred 
and Fortieth Pennsylvania Volunteers with loud cheers 
came in to the relief. The fighting ceased with the daylight 
and when the darkness filled the forest the men were tired, 
weary and hungry and settled down to sleep supperless. 
All night long the stretcher-carriers bore the wounded to 
the rear, and when morning came again the line fell back 
to the Brock Road and threw up a line of works. When 
axes and spades had done their work and the revetment 
had become breast-high coffee and hard tack were in order, 
the first in twenty-four hours. The first day of the battle 
of the Wilderness had been an eventful one for the reel- 
ment. The command, though composed of more than 
three-fourths new men who had never been in a fight, had 
proved not only reliable under the most trying ordeal but 
full of dash, ardor and the most high courage. Hancock 
says in his official report of this day's battle : "The Irish 
Brigade, commanded by Colonel Thomas Smyth and 
Colonel Brooks's Fourth Brigade, attacked the enemy 
vigorously on his right and drove his line some distance. 
The Irish Brigade was heavily engaged and although four- 
fifths of its members were recruits it behaved with great 
steadiness and gallantry, losing largely in killed and 
wounded". 

Many narrow escapes were made during the first day's 
fight. Lieutenant-Colonel Dale was hit in the side, the 
ball cutting away his undershirt but not breaking the skin. 
Lieutenant Cosslett was shot in the forehead, the ball cut- 
ting through the cap and making a deep flesh wound along 
the scalp. A young boy, Dan. Chisholm, had the front of 
his cap shot away, but leaving him unhurt ; and so many 
a close call was talked about before as one by one the tired 
soldiers sank to rest in the blood-drenched woods. Early 
on the morning of the 6th, Caldwell's division and that of 



178 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

General Gibbons's, fell back to the Brock Road. These two 
divisions, together with a large portion of the artillery of 
the Second Corps, were placed on the left of the army to 
meet an expected flank attack of Longstreet's Corps that 
was reported moving to strike the Union left flank. The 
regiment lay along the Brock Road near the Trigg House, 
and while still occupied in building breast-works the whole 
army, with the exception of the two divisions herein 
spoken of, moved forward into the deep woods, and the 
roar of the second day's battle began. It was a morning of 
intense anxiety to the men. For hours they listened to 
the continuous roll and the musketry and cheers of the 
Union Army and they knew that their people were driving 
everything before them as the huzzas and roar of the firing 
continued to recede and get further away. But towards 
noon the Union cheers became less frequent and the firing 
came nearer. Then the Confederate yell rose loud and 
wild and the Union line began to come back. The 
wounded poured out of the woods in streams and every- 
thing told of disaster to the Union arms. The victorious 
enemy halted before reaching the point where the regiment 
lay and although ready and anxious and more than willing 
the men did not get an opportunity of firing a shot until 
towards evening. Towards five o'clock, Captain Megraw, 
who had been out visiting the picket line, rushed in, 
tumbled over the breast-work and called out : "They are 
coming — get ready" ! Instantly everyone was in line and 
very wide awake, although many were resting and dozing 
a moment before. 

A few shots were heard on the picket line which was 
but a short distance in front, and almost without warning 
a Confederate line of battle stood within fifty yards of the 
slight works ; they covered the regimental front and began 
firing. The fight was short and sharp. The men replied 
vigorously for a few moments, then the breastwork, which 
was built up with dry fence rails and logs, caught fire. 
The wind fanned the flames, and soon the whole line in 



THE WILDERNESS. 179 

front of the regiment was in a blaze. The smoke rolled 
back in clouds ; the flames leaped ten and fifteen feet high, 
rolled back and scorched the men until the heat became 
unbearable, the musket balls the while whistling and 
screaming through the smoke and fire. A scene of terror 
and wild dismay, but no man in the ranks of the regiment 
moved an inch. Right in the smoke and fire they stood, 
and sent back the deadly volleys until the enemy gave up 
the effort and fell back and disappeared into the depths of 
that sad forest where thousands lay dead and dying. Soon 
the fire communicated to the trees and bush, and in less 
than an hour, acres of ground over which the armies had 
struggled and fought during the two awful days, was a 
mass of fire. This was the saddest part of all the battle. 
How many poor, wounded souls perished in the flames 
none but the angels who were there to receive their brave 
spirits will ever know ; but the very awfulness of the situ- 
ation seemed to call forth renewed evidence of courage, and 
when volunteers were demanded to rescue the wounded, 
Lieutenant Cosslett and a score of noble men rushed into 
the smoke and fire to save them. 

The rush of the enemy upon the Union works on the 
evening of the 6th, practically ended the battle of the 
Wilderness. During the night of the 6th and all the day of 
the 7th of May the regiment remained in position along the 
road, only picket firing being indulged in with an occa- 
sional crash from one of the batteries. Owing to the dense 
timber the sharpshooters had but little chance to work and 
hence the men behind the breast-works could move about 
freely and without danger, and the fact of the sharpshooters 
being unable to ply their vocation made a most remarkable 
difference in the losses of commissioned officers between the 
Wilderness and other battles. At Gettysburg, for instance, 
where the armies fought principally in the open, the losses 
among the commissioned officers were very great, eight and 
a half per cent, of all the wounded being of that class, 
while in the Wilderness but five per cent, of the killed and 



180 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

five per cent, of the wounded were officers. But, if the 
officers were spared in the first two days of the campaign, 
they received their full share of punishment during the 
succeeding fights. An old friend of the writer, Colonel 
Seymour Lansing, of the Seventeenth New York Cavalry, 
gave a dinner, just before the Peninsula campaign, to 
thirteen colonels and their wives, who at the time 
happened to be visiting the army. Within three months 
eleven of the ladies were widows. Quite as severe on the 
officers was this campaign of the Wilderness. The Irish 
Brigade went into action May 5th with ten field officers. 
Within six weeks six of them (Colonels Kelly, Byrnes and 
Dale and Majors Rider, Thouy and Lawyer) were sleeping 
in soldiers' graves, and the other four were in hospitals 
seriously wounded. 

Here, in the Wilderness, the men of the regiment 
learned the full value of field works as means of defence 
and of saving life, and began to realize the fact that the 
spade and pick were as much and quite as valuable imple- 
ments of warfare as the musket and ba3^onet. On the 5th 
of May began the slashing of timber and digging of earth 
that ended in leaving whole counties of Virginia crossed 
and re-crossed in every direction with formidable lines of 
works, enduring and quite capable of resisting field 
artillery ; and the proficiency attained by the men of the 
regiment in that direction was indeed wonderful. No 
sooner was line of battle formed and muskets stacked than 
everyone was at work, quickly forming squads and moving 
swiftly, some felling trees and trimming the logs to form 
the revetment, some driving stakes and others carrying and 
laying the tree trunks in position. Others with spade and 
pick, threw up the earth and banked it down, while more 
dragged the knarled branches and laid them in order to 
make the abattis. In two hours a line of works would be 
up and finished sufficiently powerful to resist not only an 
onslaught of infantry but stop the shells of the heaviest guns 
then in use. And how cheerfully all hands worked to get 



THE WILDERNESS. 181 

under cover. No matter liow long the march of the day or 
how wear}- and tired the bo}'s might be, there would be no 
coffee until the works were up and finished, and long before 
the war had closed every man had become a builder of field- 
works and an engineer in embryo. 



182 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 



CHAPTER IX. 

Todd's tavern or corbin's bridge. 

T^ARLY on the morning of May 8th, the regiment with- 
-^ drew from the line of the Brock Road and moved 
towards Todd's Tavern. The day was warm and the clouds 
of dust suffocating, rendering the march most oppressive. 
Water could not be found and the men suffered greatly for 
the want of it. During a halt in the road General Grant 
rode past. It was the first time that the men of the regi- 
ment had seen the great commander and they had not yet 
learned to know him. The general rode slowly by, paus- 
ing a moment to look at the command while the men 
gazed with curiosity but without the slightest show of 
enthusiasm or feeling at the serious, sphynx-like face. He 
wore the slouch hat and unbuttoned coat and general tout 
ensemble with which the whole nation has since become so 
familiar, but on this occasion the ever present cigar was 
missing. Only one or two staff officers and an orderly was 
with him and as he rode away in the dust and heat he left 
an impression never to be forgotten — so calm, quiet and 
unassuming but the embodiment of stability and firmness. 

The Army of the Potomac had found at last a com- 
mander worthy to lead it, and on that day he announced to 
the nation that " to retreat is a memory of the past ", and 
that " we will fight it out on this line if it takes all 
summer ". 

The regiment was formed in a pleasant wood (at Todd's 
Tavern), looking out over some open fields, where a few 
peaceful hours were passed in grateful rest. Miles's 
Brigade with a battery and some of Gregg's cavalry were 




GENERAL U. S. GRANT. 



TODD'S TAVERN OR CORBIN'S BRIDGE. 183 

sent out the Catharpin Road towards Corbiii's Bridge. In 
the evening while the force was returning Miles encoun- 
tered Mahone's Confederate Division and a sharp fight took 
place. The Irish Brigade was ordered out, double quick, 
to help. At the moment the order came Colonel Dale was 
holding a prayer meeting in which the larger portion ot 
the men were participating. The "Amen" was quickly 
said and in five minutes or less the brigade, with the regi- 
ment on the left, was going on a run towards the firing. 
By the time the command had reached Miles the fight was 
almost over and he had succeeded in beating off the attack 
and was falling back in good order. The other four 
regiments of the brigade fell back with Miles and got away 
without loss. Not so with the One Hundred and Sixteenth. 
The regiment had been detached by General Smyth and 
sent to the extreme right. By the blundering of a staff 
officer the point of direction was misunderstood and after 
marching through a dense wood for nearly a mile the com- 
mand drew up in front of a Confederate line of battle with 
one of their batteries within a hundred feet. There were 
no Confederate pickets in their front, but the men of the 
battery soon discovered the presence of the Union line, and 
opened a vigorous fire with shell. Fortunately for the 
regiment, they fired too high and the shells passed over the 
line. Had the Southern Battery thrown canister instead 
of shell it would have been a serious matter for the com- 
mand. While lying here trying to find out the reason of 
being so placed, a force of infantry was discovered moving 
through the woods on the right, evidently to get in rear 
and capture the regiment. A rambling fire of musketry 
was opened from that column and half a dozen of the men 
were hit. It was undoubtedly time to leave if the regi- 
ment did not wish to spend the summer in the South, so 
quietly withdrawing, the command moved back into the 
woods, the battery continuing to throw shells after the 
retreating line. After an hour of wandering through the 
forest the wav back to the division at Todd's Tavern w^as 



184 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

found and just at dark the regiment passed through the 
picket line and entered the camp, much to the surprise of 
everyone, and was received with demonstrations of glad- 
ness and joy. The command had been reported lost and 
not a soul in the division but fully believed that the One 
Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers — colors 
and all — was at that moment in the hands of the enemy. 
It was a strange adventure, a most novel experience, and 
proved more than one could imagine how perfectly reliable 
under all circumstances the command was. The Confed- 
erate troops who met and fought on the evening were 
Mahone's Brigade of Hill's Corps and a battery. These 
troops were en route to Spottsylvania C. H,, and the meet- 
ing was accidental. The fight at Todd's Tavern took place 
on a Sunday evening, and the men were summoned from 
prayer meeting to go to the front. At the time it did not 
occur to one, but now, when years have passed and we 
look back we must feel astonished at the high moral 
standard of the army that fought the war of Secession, 
and the regiment was second to none in that respect. Sel- 
dom was an obscene word or an oath heard in the camp. 
Meetings for prayer were of almost daily occurrence, and 
the groups of men sitting on the ground or gathered on 
the hill side listening to the Gospel were strong reminders 
of the mounds of Galilee when the people sat upon the 
ground to hear the Saviour teach. Ofttimes in the regiment 
the dawn witnessed the smoke of incense ascend to heaven 
amid the templed trees where serious groups knelt on the 
green sod and listened to the murmur of the Mass. In 
the evening Lieutenant-Colonel Dale or Captain Sanniel 
Taggart would hold a meeting for prayer where the larger 
number of the men would gather in reverence and devo- 
tion, while others would kneel around the Chaplain's tent 
to count their beads and repeat the rosary. Colonel Dale 
was a man of deep religious thought and feeling, and 
Captain Taggart was an ordained Minister of the Gospel, 
both men of great devotion and sincerity, and by their 



THE BATTLE OF THE PO. 185 

example did miicli towards making others sincerely good. 
Both fell early and went to receive their great reward. 
Saints they were and each died with a prayer on his lips — 
true to their country and their God. 

Throiigh the night of May 8th the picket firing was 
continuous and indicated a battle next day, as the enemy 
was thought to be concentrating in front, but the morning 
of the 9th passed and no attack, although firing was heard 
to the right and more to the left, and during the day the 
death of General Sedgwick, commanding the Sixth Corps, 
was announced. At noon the division was withdrawn 
from the works that had been erected at Todd's Tavern, 
and marched to the left about a mile along the Brock 
Road, then turning to the right crossed the country by a 
cow path and drew up on the high and open ground over- 
looking the valley of the Po River. Liue of battle was 
formed along the crest and dinner cooked. During the 
afternoon a wagon train of the enemy could be seen moving 
along a road on the other side of the stream and the Union 
batteries opened upon it with effect. The men looked on and 
enjoyed the scene greatly as they saw the shells bursting 
among the mules. The frantic efforts of the drivers to get 
out of harm's way were most laughable. Towards evening 
orders came to cross the river and about five o'clock the 
division moved, Brooks's brigade leading the movement, 
Birney's division crossing higher up the stream and 
Gibbons's division below. Brooks drove the enemy back, 
effected a crossing and was quickly followed by the balance 
of the division. By the time line was formed, however, 
the darkness fell, and after advancing into the woods for 
some distance the division halted for the night. 

THE BATTLE OF THE PO. 

There was perhaps no more interesting fight in which 
the men of the regiment were ever engaged or where they 
played a more important part than that of May loth, 



186 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

called the battle of the Po. It would be difficult to 
understand the movement that led to and culminated in 
this little battle without knowing the lay of the land. 
The Po, a deep quiet stream, about forty feet wide, after 
passing the point where the division crossed, makes a sharp 
turn, and sweeping around towards the south almost doubles 
upon its course, so that after crossing one could by march- 
ing straight forward about a mile, again strike the stream 
at the Block House Bridge. The intention of the com- 
mander-in-chief seems to have been, at first, to send the 
division over to capture the wagon train that our gunners 
had shelled with such ludicrous effect, but after the first 
troops had crossed successfully General Meade seems to 
have thought it advisable to throw the whole Second Corps 
across. That having been partly accomplished, the move- 
ment quickly suggested the possibility of a turning 
operation against the left of the Confederate army by again 
crossing the stream by the Block House Bridge, but dark- 
ness checked the advance. No sooner had the line halted 
for the night in the pitch dark forest, than the regiment 
was detailed for picket along with several hundred members 
of a German regiment. The picket force moved very 
cautiously and were as noiseless as could be until the head 
of the column reached the bank of the stream at the 
Block House Bridge. The regiment in perfect silence filed 
to the right and was deployed along the bank, the officers 
issuing their orders in whispers and the men groping their 
way and finding their posts as best they could in the 
intense darkness. All went well until the picket (com- 
posed of the One Hundred and Sixteenth) was in position 
to the right of the bridge. Every man seemed to instinc- 
tively feel the necessity of getting into position without 
the enemy, who was supposed to be on the other side of 
the river, being aware of his presence, and the success up 
to a certain point was remarkable. 

But when the German detail filed to the left of the 
bridge and began deploying in the darkness, matters were 



THE BATTLE OF THE PO. 187 

very different. Tin cups rattled now and then, and the 
officers gave their orders in tones loud enough to be heard 
on the further bank of the stream. Then a man fired his 
musket. Some one else promptly followed, and the whole 
detail began blazing away into the darkness. The roar for a 
few moments was deafening. It seemed impossible to 
quiet the excited Teutons, and notwithstanding the exer- 
tions of their officers, who ran from post to post calling out 
to stop firing, the noise was continued for ten or fifteen 
minutes. Not a shot was fired in return, and no sound was 
heard to indicate that the Confederate pickets were on the 
other side of the stream, and it is not at all likely that any 
were there, but the man who fired the first shot on the 
Union side, and so brought on the trouble, was the direct 
cause of the failure of all the plans for turning the flank 
of the enemy's line, for the volleys of musketry echo- 
ing through the still woods notified Hill of the presence of 
the Union Army, and when morning broke, his men were 
discovered hard at work entrenching and getting artillery 
in position to cover the passage of the bridge. Hancock 
and Barlow were on hand early examining the crossing, and 
at once saw how impracticable it would be to force a pas- 
sage at that point. Brooks with his brigade crossed the 
stream lower down, however, and pushing forward half a 
mile, discovered the left of the enemy's line, and found it 
strongly fortified, and the movement against Lee's left flank 
was abandoned. Gibbons's and Birney 's divisions were, dur- 
ing the morning, withdrawn and sent to the left to assist the 
Fifth Corps in an assault on the Confederate line near the 
Alsop House, and Barlow's division was left alone to hold 
the advance line across the stream. The entire One Hundred 
and Sixteenth Regiment was then deployed on the skirmish 
line to cover the front of Brown's and Smyth's Brigades. 
The colors were placed with the reserve and the line drawn 
back somewhat from the stream. All the forenoon the 
Confederates could be seen working on their fortifications, 
and but very little firing took place. They seemed to wish 



188 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

to work ill peace, and the men were not at all anxious to 
bring on a fight. A very amusing incident took place dur- 
ing the morning. Lieutenant Springer, of Company K, 
and another officer, started from the reserve to visit 
the picket. Strolling along through the woods, their 
swords over their arms and chatting pleasantly, in some 
unaccountable manner they passed through the line and 
were so engrossed with their talk that they were down on 
the banks of the stream before the}' were conscious of their 
whereabouts. The river at this point was quite narrow, 
and on the further bank stood a Confederate brigade in 
line and at "j)arade rest". Pioneers were hard at work 
throwing a bridge across, that the force might get over on. 
The two officers, to say the least, were astonished when 
they saw the long line of gray within thirty feet. The 
conversation suddenly ceased, and blank amazement suc- 
ceeded. Our southern friends were just a little more as- 
tonished than the two One Hundred and Sixteenth officers. 
The pioneers dropped their axes and stared. The officers 
seemed so taken aback by the unexpected apparition of 
two Union officers in full unifom, quietly standing there 
looking at them, that for two or three minutes they were 
too much surprised to speak. Some of them began to 
draw their swords. The men straightened up, and with- 
out waiting for orders, came to "attention." All their 
faces were full of wonderment. They were evidently 
thinking of what was to follow the strange apparition. 
Was there a line of battle coming in rear of these two 
mild looking men in blue, or what on earth were they 
doing there anyhow ? Soon someone on the other side 
recovered his senses sufficiently to grasp the situation and 
called out : " Come over here and give up your swords ! " 
No response from the One Hundred and Sixteenth men. 
They still continued to gaze and wonder how they were 
to get out of the embarrassing position. Another order 
from the opposite side of the creek : " Some of you men, 
there, go over and bring in those two officers ! " Still no 



THE BATTLE OF THE PO. 189 

response. The party of the first and second part both too 
much bewildered to act. Third order from the party in 
gray : " Six of you men from the left of Company B, run 
over there and catch those two fellows ! " Just then a 
movement was observed at the further end of the two 
large trees that had been felled across the stream as the six 
men in question quickly ran to cross. Springer and his 
friend concluded that it was high time for them to either 
surrender gracefully or run, and they concluded to chance 
the latter. Quickly turning, they bolted up the steep bank. 
The Confederates seeing their prey about to escape, called 
to the men to fire. The bullets whistled after the fleeing 
officers, who fortunately got away all safe to live and add, 
in later times, another tale to the camp-fire stories of hair 
breadth escapes, and how they walked into a Confederate 
line. Shortly after noon orders were received to withdraw 
the division to the north bank of the Po. The movement 
began about two o'clock, but at the very moment that the 
Union troops began falling back, the enemy (Heath's divis- 
ion of Hill's Corps) advanced with loud yells to attack. 
Miles's and Smyth's Brigades and the batteries, with the 
exception of Arnold's, had already commenced retiring 
when Heath came forward. The assault was of the most 
determined character, the enemy pressing close up to the 
Union line. Brooks's and Brown's men met them with a 
steady and destructive fire, and the combat became fierce 
and bloody. A furious artillery duel between the batteries 
on the north bank and the Confederate batteries on the 
south bank raging the while, the shells from both sides 
passing completely over the fighting infantry. 

The fight had opened on the right of the regimental 
picket line, but after the skirmishers of Brown and Brooks 
were driven in the enemy made their appearance in front 
of the whole regimental line. Word was passed along to 
hold the ground even against a line of battle, if possible, 
and the ihen of each post, sheltering themselves as best 
they could behind the trees, did their whole duty nobly. 



190 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

A portion of Brown's Brigade, in falling back, passed 
through the line of the regiment, and the retreating troops 
called to the men that the enemy were right behind them. 
The woods were on fire and the flames were crackling and 
roaring. The surroundings were appalling. The men 
knew that every one was getting to the rear, that soon the 
bridges would be cut away and their only chance of escape 
gone, but not a man moved from his place. Examining 
their pieces and standing at a " ready," they calmly waited 
for the approaching foe and when the Confederates appeared, 
poured a steady fire into the advancing line. At last, 
when all others were gone, the welcome order came to fall 
back and try to save the regiment. It was almost too late. 
There was only one avenue, one means of escape. The 
field officers galloping to the extreme right called to the 
men on the skirmish line to rally on the left at a run. 
The reserve with the colors fell back to the road and 
awaited the assembly of the men from the front. Soon 
nearly all were gathered up and a hasty retreat made across 
the open ground to the only bridge left. When safe on 
the other side, saved almost by a miracle, to look back at 
the flaming forest and think of the thirty members of the 
regiment who were still among the blazing trees dead or 
helplessly wounded, a prey to the pitiless fire! After 
recrossing the river the line was dressed, and as the darkness 
was gathering a burst of musketry told of more fighting. 
Although tired, weary and hungr}-, the regiment to a man 
promptly responded to the call to go forward once more, and 
with a cheer that echoed and rolled along the valley, the 
command swept forward to meet the foe. But the night 
was at hand, and the fight of the Po closed with the day. 

The reason of the withdrawal from the south bank of 
the Po was not understood by officers or men at the time, 
but it was afterwards learned that General Meade did not 
wish to bring on a general engagement on that side of the 
river, and had ordered the abandoning of the' position 
and directed General Hancock to personally direct the 



THE BATTLE OF THE PO. 191 

retirement of the troops. It was at the moment that the 
movement commenced that the Confederates advanced to 
the attack, and the line was forced to pause and beat back 
the assault before retiring. The combat, in the language 
of General Hancock "was close and bloody. The enemy, 
in vastly superior numbers, flushed with the anticipation 
of easy victory, appeared determined to crush the small 
force opposed to them, and pressing forward with loud yells 
forced their way close up to the Union lines," delivering a 
terrible musketry fire as they advanced. The brave troops 
resisted their onset with undaunted resolution ! Their fire 
along the whole line was so continuous and deadly, that 
the enemy found it impossible to withstand, but broke and 
retreated in the wildest disorder, leaving the ground in 
front strewn with dead and wounded. 

Arnold's Rhode Island Battery had been pushed far to 
the front during the fight, and in the retreat, the horses of 
one of the guns became terrified by the blazing forest and 
dragged the piece between two trees, where it became so 
firmly wedged that it could not be moved. Every exertion 
was made by the artillerymen and some of the infantry to 
get it awa}^, but finally it had to be abandoned — the first 
gun ever lost by the Second Corps. The One Hundred 
and Sixteenth Regiment performed a brilliant part in this 
fight, on the south side of the Po, and General Francis 
A. Barlow personally thanked the officers and men for the 
great service rendered. 

Nothing of importance occurred during May nth. 
The men of the regiment rested, and many of them wrote 
letters home. Lieutenant-Colonel Dale finished and mailed 
to the Pittsburg papers the letter that he had begun on 
the morning of May 4th, on the battlefield of Chancellors- 
ville. In the letter he speaks of the fight of the Po as a 
more important battle than that of the Wilderness. So 
little did the participants know at the time of what was 
going on around them, each one seeing and knowing of his 
own immediate front only. Here is his letter. He tells 



192 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

of the dead and wounded, but of the missing — ah, the 
missing who disappeared in the flaming woods of the 
Wilderness and the Po! The missing who were never seen 
or heard of again, what of them? 

Colonel Dale's letter : 

Headquarters ii6th Regiment, Pennsylvania 
Volunteers. 

May II, 1864. 
Dear Chronicle : 

I suppose all who have friends in the army are now 
anxious to get some tidings of them, knowing that active 
operations have commenced in earnest. As there are three 
companies from western Pennsylvania in our regiment, I 
thought I might relieve the anxiety of some of your 
readers by sending you for publication, a list of our killed 
and wounded up to this time. It is possible, however, the 
list may be lengthened before you receive this, as the fight- 
ing is apparently not yet over. I write this upon my knee 
behind breastworks upon which our men are still at work, 
while in plain view the " rebs " are also entrenching. 
We left camp at about eleven o'clock on the night of Tues- 
day, May 3d, crossing the Rapidan the next morning about 
seven o'clock, and about noon reached the memorable field 
of Chancellorsville, where we rested until the next morn- 
ing. Some of us who had been present at the battle there 
little thought at the time that we would have returned to 
the field just one year to the day from our retreat in 1863. 
You may be sure that we took great pleasure in visiting 
the spots which were so indelibly impressed upon our 
memory. T gathered a few flowers as mementoes. By the 
way, the battlefield is covered with wild flowers, nearly all 
of a purple color, as though the blood of our brave soldiers 
had so drenched the soil as to darken the very flowers that 
grew upon it. Perhaps some who have lost friends at 
Chancellorsville may take pleasure in thinking that though 
their dead heroes may sleep in unmarked graves, yet the 



THE BATTLE OF THE PO. 193 

flowers bloom over them as profusely as if interred in any 
of our beautiful cemeteries at home. 

About four o'clock on Thursday afternoon we became 
engaged with the enemy about four miles from Chancellors- 
ville, the battle continuing until dark. It was during 
the engagement that General Alex. Hays was killed. 
His command was to our right. We have had more 
or less fighting daily, culminating yesterday in a great 
battle. Our regiment has lost up to yesterday, forty-two 
in killed and wounded. In addition to these there are a 
number missing, but as some of these may turn up again, 
it is unnecessary to create uneasiness among friends by 
giving names. 

The list is enclosed. I would be glad to have it 
published. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
Richard C. Dale, 

Lieutenant-Colonel, ii6th Penna. Volunteers. 



194 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 



CHAPTER X. 

SPOTTSYLVANIA. 

MAY r2TH. 

'npHERE was a good dealof picket firing during May nth, 
and towards evening a chilling rain set in. Tired and 
hungry the men shivered around the green wood fires, the 
fires that when wanted most would never, never blaze or 
brighten. The wind, raw and sharp, whirled the smoke 
to the side least expected, and changed its direction every 
time the audience shifted to avoid having their eyes 
smoked out of their heads. The same old, familiar smoke 
that blackened the eyes and dirtied the faces, whose 
pungent smell lingered so long in the clothes, that in fair 
weather went straight up to the sky and made the camp 
fire seem even more inviting and cozy, in the wet and rain 
clung to the ground, spread itself all over the men, seeking 
out their most vulnerable parts, bringing tears to their 
eyes, inserting itself into the deepest and most hidden 
parts of their lungs, choking and blinding, and causing 
one to consider whether it would not be better to abandon 
the effort to secure a little warmth and heat at such a cost 
and fly to the cold and outer darkness. The men suc- 
ceeded in coaxing enough blaze to boil the evening coffee, 
but no blowing or other inducement could raise suflicient 
fire to fry the pork or stew the moistened cracker; so, cold, 
cheerless and disconsolate, they sank to sleep in the falling 
rain, wet to the skin, with their soaked feet to the 
smouldering embers. But the rest was of short duration, 
for even as the weary souls were gathering their soddeu 



SPOTTSYLVANIA. 195 

blankets around them, and trying to find soft spots in the 
mud, Colonel Comstock, of the Headquarter Staff, and 
several of the Corps Staff were marking out the line of 
battle for the morrow ; and at 9 p, m. the word came to 
pack up and march immediately. It did not take long to 
obey the order; each one had only to rise from the earth, 
shake himself in a vain effort to get rid of the chills that 
were ever coursing up and down the spine on nights like 
this, wring the water out of his shoes, lift the cold., heavy 
musket from the stack, and all was ready. At 10 p. m. 
the column was put in motion, Major Mendall, of the 
engineers, leading the way to Spottsylvania, with orders 
to attack at daylight. Of all the night marches of the 
regiment this was the most trying. Through dense 
woods, in black darkness, the rain falling in torrents, 
dreary, weary, and in silence, the command tramped 
through the deep mud, slipping and splashing and falling 
over tree stumps, with once in a while a long halt, while 
those in the lead made sure of the way. Sometimes an 
alarm, sudden and unexpected, would wake up the tired 
soldiers to wonder and to ask each other: "Where 
are we going, anyway ? " An army pack mule, laden 
with rattling kettles and pans, carried consternation 
through the ranks by dashing through the trees, and then 
an accidental musket shot rang out and startled the 
marching troops. Shortly after midnight the mystery 
came to an end, and the head of the column arrived 
opposite the point to be attacked at daylight. In utter 
darkness and perfect silence the regiment passed the 
Brown House, moved out towards the enemy, and formed 
ready for the assault. The regimental formation was 
"double column on the centre", the division forming in 
the clearing to the right of the Landron House. The 
orders were given in whispers and organizations seemed to 
find their positions by instinct. It was still very dark 
when the formation of the attacking columns was com- 
pleted, and an hour intervened before the time came to 



196 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

rush upon the enemy's works, a heavy fog adding to the 
density of the darkness. To those who stood there in line, 
cold, sleepy, tired and weary, a long, long wait it seemed 
•to be. Hancock rode quietly to each command and said a 
few encouraging words in a low tone, telling the officers 
in turn to speak to the men and urge them to a brilliant 
effort. Colonel Dale gathered around him the officers of 
the regiment and spoke to them of the importance of the 
coming fight, calling upon them to do their duty well. His 
last sentence, "Strike for your God and country", were 
the last words that many ever heard from his lips. He 
then moved around among the waiting line, speaking 
words of hope and cheer, and just a few moments before 
the final move, he stood among a group of officers and 
spoke, not only of the coming day, but the long eternity 
that might follow for some who then were full of life. 
" Gentlemen ", said he, " to-day may be for some of us the 
last on earth. Whilst we are waiting here would it not be 
well to say a prayer? " Noble soldier that he was, saintly 
and pure in camp and bivouac, gentle as a lady, setting an 
example of perfect manhood that influenced the command 
to the very end. In battle he was a hero of the most 
exalted type, whose brilliant leadership nerved his men to 
deeds of fearless daring. The order to move on the salient 
point at Spottsylvania named four o'clock, but it was dark 
at that hour and a heavy fog hung over the fields. 
Hancock, therefore, postponed the time of attack until 4.35, 
when, day breaking and the mist lifting a little, it became 
sufficiently light to see dimly. The men were ordered to 
draw their loads and to use the bayonet only. The 
division (Barlow's) was formed into two lines, Brooks's 
and Miles's Brigades in the first, and Smyth's and Brown's 
in the second. The nature of the ground over which the 
attacking column was to pass was altogether unknown to 
every one. General Mott with his division had made an 
attack on the same spot two days before, but he could give 
little information as to the twelve hundred yards to be 



SPOTTSYLVANIA. 197 

passed over before reaching the works of the enemy. 
Amid whispered inquiries by the officers as to the work 
before them and a nervous uncertainty as to what was 
coming, the order to advance was quietly passed along the 
line. Without a word louder than an audible whisper of 
command, the two divisions of the Second Corps, Barlow's 
and Birney's, moved forward in dead silence. As it was 
not as yet light enough to see distinctly, the intervals 
between regiments and brigades were soon lost. Barlow's 
division having the clear ground to the right of the 
Landron House to march over, kept somewhat ahead of 
Gibbons's, but that command, making superhuman ex- 
ertions, gained the enemy's works almost at the same 
moment as the former. Not a sound disturbed the moving 
line. Instinctively every man knew the importance of 
covering as much ground as possible before being dis- 
covered, and not until nearing the Landron House was 
the advancing force discovered. Then a volley from the 
Confederate picket reserve was poured into the left of 
Barlow's line, killing Lieutenant-Colonel David L. Striker, 
of the Second Delaware, a brave, amiable and most 
accomplished young officer. No return was made to the 
tire, but silently pushing on in the gray light of the 
morning the men caught sight of the red earth of the 
works, and, with a wild cheer that broke the stillness, 
they rushed up the sloping ground and in a moment were 
tearing away at the Abattis, tugging, pulling and dragging 
the detached branches aside, crawling through and 
tumbling over the mass of material that was piled in front 
of the breastworks. The momentary work enabled the 
brigades of the second line to come up and mingle with 
those that were in front. All line and formation was now 
lost, and the great mass of men, with a rush like a cyclone, 
sprang upon the entrenchments and swarmed over, beating 
down the defenses and using the bayonet very freely. 
The surprise was complete. While large numbers of 
Confederates had already mounted the works and 



108 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

made a brave defense, many of them were still sound 
asleep, rolled in their blankets and dreaming. A few 
erected tents were scattered here and there, and in the dim 
light the inmates crawled out to discover the cause of the 
noise, to find themselves prisoners. Amid the wild con- 
fusion of the glorious success, it was difficult to preserve 
order. Men became insane with the excitement of victory. 
Thirty stands of colors, eighteen guns, two general officers 
and four thousand prisoners captured by two divisions of 
the Second Corps, and not yet broad day light. While 
organizations were mixed, and for a short time order was 
impossible, still the fight went on, the enemy making a 
most gallant resistance. In squads and singly, every man 
seemed acting on his own responsibility — the Confederates 
making a brave effort to stem the tide of Union victory, 
and the men making the most heroic exertions to make 
their triumph complete. The men of the One Hundred 
and Sixteenth were among the first over the works, and 
the colors of the regiment were in advance. Personal 
encounters between individuals took place on every part 
of the disputed ground. Lieutenant Fraley, of Company 
F, ran a Confederate color-bearer through with his sword ; 
a Confederate shot one of the men when almost within 
touch of his musket, then threw down his piece and called 
out, " I surrender", but Dan Crawford, of Company K, 
shot him dead ; Billy Hager, of the same company, ran 
into a group of half-a-dozen and demanded their surrender, 
saying, "Throw down your arms, quick now, or I'll stick my 
bayonet into you", and they obeyed. Henry J. Bell, known 
as "Blinkey Bell", leaped over the works and yelled, "Look 
out, throw down your arms, we run this machine now". 
A large number of the men of the regiment ran forward and 
took possession of a battery of brass pieces, and turning 
them around, got ready to open on any force that might 
appear. Alf. Bales, of Company K, hitched a rope to one of 
the pieces, and a dozen of the men ran it to the rear. Cap- 
tain Schoales with a lot of Company E men, ran off with 



SPOTTSYLVANIA. 199 

another. The horses of the battery were not visible, but 
the harness was hanging on the wheels, and everything 
indicated that the gunners had but a moment before aban- 
doned the guns, or had not time to man them after the 
first alarm. The prisoners were quickly formed into 
squads and sent to the rear. Some of them took things 
very coolly. One big Confederate crawled out from under 
a tent fly, and when called upon to surrender, stretched 
himself with great nonchalance and said: "Oh, well, 
that is all right boys ; don't get so excited. Just let us 
get our coats on, and we will go to the rear." Many 
trophies were gathered in. Dick McClean, of Company 
K, relieved General Johnston of his sword, and Dan 
Sickles, of the same company, captured a regimental flag. 
Colonel Dale seemed omnipresent, and was everywhere at 
once, bringing back order and preparing for a further 
advance, calling the men from the captured batteries and 
reforming the broken line ; then, still crazed with excite- 
ment, the line pressing forward through the woods with 
such men as the division commanders could get together, 
but still somewhat disorganized and in mass. They were 
met in front of the McCool House by Johnston's Brigade, of 
Gordon's division, that had been placed there the evening 
before. The men, disorganized as they were, made such 
an impetuous attack on Johnston's men that they broke 
and fell back through the forest, closely pursued by the 
victorious troops. That splendid Southern soldier, John 
B. Gordon, quickly formed the two brigades of Evans and 
Pegram behind the second line of works, which in antici- 
pation of, and to meet just such an emergency as the 
present, he had constructed across the salient. The Union 
men reached this second line and found the front covered 
by a heavy abattis. They were met by a heavy fire from the 
two brigades already in line and Johnston's men who had 
fallen back to this point. The men rushed at the entrench- 
ments with the intention of crossing, the ofiicers vieing 
with each other in deeds of great personal bravery, but 



200 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

the line of fresh troops, pouring in an extremely heavy 
fire, threw them back. Already in confusion, the mass of 
men, many organizations mingled together, and all the 
commands more or less separated, began to fall back, and 
then Gordon's line, advancing, struck vigorously and 
charged with loud cries and cheers. The members of the 
One Hundred and Sixteenth made a good fight, and were 
among the last to give ground. Colonel Dale, sword in 
'hand, was ever in the front ; and when the retreat began, 
he lingered behind, with his face to the foe, waving his 
sword and calling to the men to stand firm. Those of the 
regiment who saw his heroic efforts, pressed forward to 
gather round him. Suddenly his sword was seen to drop, 
his voice ceased and he sank to the earth. At the moment 
of his falling, the confusion was very great ; the Confed- 
erates were pressing forward, and the men were giving 
way. Some men of Company K, who saw him fall, tried 
to reach him, but were pushed back by the surging mass 
of fighting, struggling men ; the Confederate line swept 
over his body, and none of his friends or comrades ever 
saw him again. As the men of Barlow's Division, which 
had advanced into the angle further than any other troops, 
began to give ground before the onslaughts of Gordon's 
Division, the Confederate Brigades of Daniel, Ramseur, 
Perrin and Harris moved against the Divisions of Birney 
and Mott that were advancing along the west side of the 
angle. The troops fell back reluctantly. They did not 
like to give up the important advantage that they had 
gained. The Confederate Army was literally cut in two 
by the early morning rush of the Second Corps, and now 
to be driven from the position and surrender the ground so 
nobly won, was too serious to be thought of. Bravely the 
men fought, but without avail. The momentum of the 
charge, and the very perfectness of the victory, had 
destroyed all organization, and Barlow's men were without 
order or battle formation. It was just as important to the 
enemy that the angle be retaken and the victors driven 



SPOTTSYLVANIA. 201 

out ; and the Confederate officers and men rose to the full 
importance of the occasion. General Lee was in the very 
front himself, and at one time became so carried away 
with the intense excitement, that he placed himself in 
front of one of Gordon's Brigades, and, with hat in hand, 
was leading the charging line as it swept forward through 
the woods. The men, recognizing the Commander of their 
army, burst into prolonged cheers, but refused to allow 
their leader to expose his life ; they calmly, but firmly, 
requested him to stop, and taking hold of his horse's bridle, 
forced him to turn back. The men fell back before the 
vigorous blows of the enemy, leaving behind many of 
their comrades who fell at every step ; finally all were 
forced out, and took position on the outer face of the 
angle. Just as the troops were forced out of the salient, 
the Sixth Corps came to the front and took position on the 
right of the Second Corps. The men of Barlow's Divis- 
ion were still mixed up to a great extent when they 
re-crossed the works that they had captured but an hour 
before. The men of the One Hundred and Sixteenth were 
scattered in groups along the works, and when, at this 
point, the all-day fight began, they fought assembled in 
squads, whenever an officer was found to command them. 
No sooner were the men over the works than the furious 
attacks of the Confederates commenced — the assaults that 
were destined to continue all day and late into the night, 
and make May 12th the bloodiest day of all the war. 
Along a mile of the captured entrenchments, the fight 
went on until midnight. No language can describe this 
hand to hand fight. The drenching, chilling rain that fell 
during the day had no effect on the incessant fire. The 
lines were close together, nothing between them but the 
log revetment, to which the men were trying to cling, and 
the enemy endeavoring to shake them off". Men fired into 
each others faces, were shot through the crevices of the 
logs, bayoneted over the top of the works. In their wild 
enthusiasm men would leap up on the works and fire down 



202 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

Upon the enemy standing there, while freshly loaded 
muskets were handed to them, keeping up a continuous 
fire until they in turn were shot down. The dead and 
the dying were in piles on both sides of the works, and 
several times during the day the dead had to be tossed out 
of the trenches that the living might have a chance to 
stand. Hancock ran a battery close to the works, and, 
throwino; shells and canister over the heads of the Union 
troops, swept the ground. The trees were torn in 
splinters, and one great tree, measuring twenty-two inches 
in diameter, was cut down entire and fell with a crash, 
injuring some of the men of McGowan's Brigade. Owing 
to the all day continuous battle, it was impossible to 
re-form or get together the members of the One Hundred 
and Sixteenth, scattered in the charge of the early morn- 
ing. They fought through the long day with the troops 
with which they found themselves when they were driven 
back over the works. Colonel Mulholland was absent, 
wounded. Colonel Dale was gone, and Major Teed being 
in a Southern prison, the command of the regiment 
devolved upon Captain Garrett Nowlen ; and when mid- 
night brought the fighting to a close, and the Confederates 
finally gave up the struggle and fell back, leaving the 
bloody ground in possession of the Union troops, it became 
possible to get the command assembled. At daylight on 
May 13th, Captain Nowlen succeeded in getting the com- 
panies and men together, and calling the roll, learned the 
fate of many a brave and noble soul who would never 
answer to his name again. The long, bloody day of May 
1 2th did not end until midnight, when the exhausted 
troops of both armies sank on the wet ground to sleep 
among the dead and dying, the chilling rain falling on 
friend and foe alike. After nightfall, heavy details were 
made for picket, and during the next day the fighting on 
the skirmish line was quite severe, during which Lieuten- 
ant Yocum greatly distinguished himself in leading a 
charge and forcing the enemy to fall back. Yocum had 




LIEUTENANT-COLONEL RICHARD C. DALE. 
Killed at Spottsylvania, May 12th, 1864. 



SPOTTSYLVANIA. 203 

gathered up half a dozen Confederate officers' swords 
during the fight, and selecting the most valuable, gave the 
others away. It was not known for sometime afterward 
whether Colonel Dale had been killed or only wounded 
and a prisoner. He had been seen to fall, but beyond that 
nothing was certain. Within a few days after the battle, 
the Government made every effort to learn something of 
him, even sending a company of cavalry to visit the field 
and farm houses in the vicinity, thinking that he might 
be among the wounded and somewhere near the field. 
Weeks passed away, but nothing definite could be learned 
until the autumn, when Lieutenant Zadock Springer, of 
Company K, having been taken prisoner at the battle of 
Ream's Station, August 25th, and going south on the 
cars, saw the Lieutenant of a Georgia regiment, who had 
charge of the party, wearing Colonel Dale's cap and sword. 
Springer recognized the articles, and was told by the offi- 
cer that he had taken them from the body of a Union 
officer who had been killed at Spottsylvania. This Con- 
federate officer's account of Colonel Dale's death coincided 
exactly with what was known of his fall ; he said that he 
fell while waving his sw^ord and rallying his men, and 
that he fell by the second line of works. This was the 
first positive information as to the fate of one of the noblest 
of men, a man of splendid abilities, virtuous, gentle, brave 
and accomplished, whose frank and agreeable face and 
courteous bearing ever cheered his comrades in camp, 
march and bivouac, and whose bright eye and clear, ring- 
ing voice nerved them in battle, a Christian gentleman by 
instinct and a soldier without a superior. The following 
biographical sketch is from " Martial Deeds of Pennsyl- 
vania" : 

" Richard Colegate Dale, Lieutenant-Colonel of the 
One Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment, was born on the 
19th of December, 1838, in the city of Allegheny. His 
father, Thomas F. Dale, M. D., and his mother, Margaret 
Kennedy Stewart, were both natives of Delaware. He 



204 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

received a thorough English and a partial classical educa- 
tion in his native city. He was, from early youth, char- 
acterized by strong individuality. He was engaged for a 
time as a clerk in commission and manufacturing houses, 
but finally became an active partner in a mercantile firm. 
When the war came, he frankly said to his father : ' Mr. 
Lincoln has called for men. Many, on account of family 
or other relations, cannot go as well as I. Do not think 
it is a fit of enthusiasm. I do not imagine it will be any 
pleasure to be a soldier. His is a life of trial and peril, 
and I do not know whether my constitution will be strong 
enough to bear those toils and exposures ; but I think it 
my duty to go.' An only son and carefully reared, it was 
with great reluctance that the consent of his parents was 
given to his resolution ; but he would listen to no tempor- 
izing, and he enlisted as a private in Company A of the 
Ninth Reserves, in the spring of 1861. In the following 
August he was detailed from his regiment to serve in the 
United States Signal Corps. In a School of Instruction 
for that arm of the service, at Tenalytown, and after- 
wards as clerk to Major Myers, the commander of the 
corps in Washington, he was employed till the opening of 
the spring campaign under McClellan, with whom he went 
to the Peninsula, and served with fidelity and skill until 
the final battle at Malvern Hill had been fought. He then 
received leave of absence for ten days ; but in Washington, 
while on his way home, his furlough was extended by the 
Adjutant-General, and he was authorized to raise a com- 
pany for signal duty. He opened a recruiting station at 
Pittsburg, on his arrival, but having been elected First 
Lieutenant of Company D, of the One Hundred and 
Twenty-third Regiment, he accepted the position, and at 
once entered upon his duties. For four months he served 
as Adjutant of the regiment, exerting himself to bring the 
organization up to an efficient standard, when he returned 
to his place in his company. At the battle of Fredericks- 
burg, he acted with great gallantry, taking command of 



SPOTTSYLVANIA. 205 

his company when its leader, Captain Boisol, was wounded, 
and had his haversack riddled with bullets, though he 
himself escaped without injury. He was soon afterwards 
appointed Assistant Adjutant-General of the brigade. A 
vacancy occurring- in the office of Lieutenant-Colonel, he 
was promptly elected to fill it by the line officers, though 
the junior Captain among them. So methodical and com- 
plete were all his acts, that when notified of his promotion, 
he was in readiness to turn over his business at the head 
of the brigade in a finished condition, and at once to 
assume the responsible one in command of the regiment. 
He was engaged at Chancellorsville, and when the term of 
the regiment had expired, which occurred soon afterwards, 
he returned with it to Pittsburg, where it was mustered 
out. 

" When he heard the intelligence of fighting at Gettys- 
burg, he hastened home, exclaiming, ' Our boys are fight- 
ing and falling at Gettysburg, and I am here doing 
nothing. I cannot stand this ! ' Gathering up a few 
articles of clothing, he hurried away to the depot, and 
reached Harrisburg that night. He immediately reported 
to the Governor, and asked to be sent to the front, saying : 
' I must go. I can at least volunteer as aid to some Gen- 
eral, to carry dispatches over the field '. But the Governor 
could not provide transportation. Indeed, all the avenues 
were closed — even a private carriage could not be secured, 
the inhabitants fearing the action of the enemy's cavalry, 
and refusing every offer, unless bonds were entered for the 
safe return of the conveyance. Finding it impossible to 
reach the field, he was obliged, reluctantly, to return home. 

"Soon afterwards, General Brooks, at the head of the 
Department of the Monongahela, offered him the command 
of a battalion of six months' cavalry. ' I was drilled in 
cavalry movements when in the signal service ', was his 
response, ' and I shall be glad to serve in any capacity to 
which you may assign me '. The companies were already 
recruited and in camp, and fears were entertained that 



206 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REOnviENT. 

officers who were expecting the command, much older than 
himself, would object to having a boy set over them. The 
very troubles arose which were anticipated ; but so firmly 
and judiciously did he suppress the first rising of revolt, 
and so wisely and well did he enforce his discipline and 
drill, and instruct his charge, that a large part of the men 
were desirous of being led by him for a three years' term. 
He was stationed in Fayette county, and was charged with 
guarding the border, a duty which he performed to the 
satisfaction of General Brooks, and, what was more difficult, 
to the entire approval of the inhabitants among whom he 
was quartered. 

In January, 1864, while General Hancock was engaged 
in reorganizing the Second Corps, which became famous 
under his leadership. Dale was offered the position of 
Lieutenant-Colonel in the One Hundred and Sixteenth 
Regiment, which was accepted, and he was immediately 
engaged in recruiting, it having been decimated in 
previous campaigns while still a part of the celebrated 
Irish Brigade. In the battle of the Wilderness, where his 
command was closely engaged, a bullet penetrated his 
coat, but he escaped. On the 9th of May, his regiment 
was ordered to the picket line to support General Miles's 
Brigade, and was imder a hot fire of rebel grape and 
canister. On the following day it was again engaged in a 
long, hard fight, in which Colonel Mulholland was severely 
wounded in the head. The command then devolved on 
Lieutenant-Colonel Dale, and in the assault upon the 
enemy's works, at the dawn of the 12th, while gallantly 
leading his regiment into the ' imminent deadly breach', he 
fell instantly killed or mortally wounded, as is supposed, no 
tidings having ever been had of him, and no information 
pertaining to his last resting-place been discovered. When 
a sufficient time had elapsed to preclude all hope of return, 
resolutions were passed by his brother officers commemora- 
tive of his great ability as a soldier and his many virtues 
as a man. The colonel of his resfiment said of him : ' He 



SPOTTSYLVANIA. 207 

was a man of splendid abilities, virtuous, gentle, brave and 
accomplished. He was remarkably calm in battle, and was 
very much beloved by his comrades'. His two sisters, who 
survive him, say, in closing a communication concerning 
him, ' No sisters ever had a more devoted brother ' ". 

Lieutenant Henry Keil, of Company E, was killed 
during the fight. He was a brave young officer, not more 
than eighteen years of age. He joined the regiment as 
first sergeant of his company only three months before his 
death. He had not yet been mustered in as an officer, and 
his commission remained in the adjutant's desk for several 
months after Spottsylvania. It was not known at the 
time that he was killed, and he was reported "missing", 
but it was afterwards learned that he fell in the battle. 

Lieutenants Samuel G. Vanderheyden, of Company G, 
and Robert J. Alston, of Company H, were both severely 
wounded. The wounds of many of the men were of a 
very unusual character. Edward Savage, of Company K, 
had both eyes destroyed by the windage of a passing shell. 
He was lead from the field, but died in a few hours from 
the shock and concussion. A Union officer had both eyes 
shot out, the ball passing just back of the eyeballs. He 
stood blind and helpless, never uttering a word of com- 
plaint, but opening and closing the sightless sockets, the 
blood leaping out in spurts. Numbers of men were killed 
and wounded by the bayonet, more, perhaps, than in any 
other fight of the war; and facilities for handling the 
immense numbers of wounded seemed more inadequate 
than usual. Thousands swarmed around the temporary 
hospitals, and the woods and the roads in the rear of the 
line were filled with stricken men, wandering around in 
the drenching rain, seeking assistance. Some few 
members of the One Hundred and Sixteenth were sent 
back to Army Headquarters with the prisoners ; and they 
reported that, during the morning, the four thousand 
Confederates had arranged to make a break for liberty, and 
to try a rush for their lives. But General Patrick, Provost 



208 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

Marshal, had defeated and checked the effort. General 
Johnston and General Stewart were taken at once to the 
Army Headquarters, and were received with every 
courtesy and consideration. They were deeply interested, 
and Johnston eyed General Grant with great curiosity. 
The meeting was cordial and, on the part of the Union 
officers, very pleasant. 

On the morning of the 13th it was found that the enemy 
had abandoned the salient and retired to entrenchments, 
entirely cutting off that portion of their line, leaving great 
piles of dead and many wounded on the ground on which 
they had made such a ferocious fight during the preceding 
day. The picket details from the regiment that had been 
on duty all the night of the 12th and until four o'clock on 
the afternoon of the 13th were relieved at that hour, and 
returned to the regiment exhausted and worn out: They 
had been under fire continually for thirty-six hours, 
without food or rest. Lieutenant Yocum received un- 
bounded praise for his action on the skirmish line. 

The losses in the regiment during the battle of May 12th 
could never be actually ascertained. Numbers that were 
reported missing were afterwards found to have been 
killed. The total loss of the Union Army on May 12th 
was : Killed and wounded, 6,020 ; missing, 800 ; total, 
6,820. The Confederate loss, including the 4,000 prisoners 
captured by General Hancock and his Second Corps, was 
between 9,000 and 10,000. The loss to the enemy in 
general officers was extremely heavy — Brigadier-Generals 
Daniel and Perrin being killed, and Brigadier-Generals 
Walker, Ramseur, R. D. Johnston and McGowan severely 
wounded ; and Major-General Edward Johnston and 
Brigadier-General George H. Stewart captured. 

May 14th, under arms at daybreak, but the command 
was not called upon, and a most welcome rest until 4 a. m,. 
May 15th, when the regiment moved two miles to the left 
and bivouaced on the Fredericksburg road, resting as 
best they could, the rain still falling at intervals, and the 



SPOTTSYLVANIA. 209 

roads so heavy that it was impossible to move trains or 
artillery. During the afternoon an order from General 
Meade was read to the regiment : 

Headquarters Army of the Potomac. 

May 13th. 

Soldiers : The moment has arrived when your com- 
manding General feels authorized to address you in terms 
of congratulation. 

For eight days and nights, almost without intermission, 
in rain and sunshine, you have been gallantly fighting a 
desperate foe, in positions naturally strong and rendered 
doubly so by entrenchments. 

You have compelled him to abandon his fortifications 
on the Rapidan, co retire and attempt to stop your onward 
progress, and now he has abandoned his last entrenched 
position, so tenaciously held, suffering a loss in all of 
eighteen guns, twenty-two colors and 8,000 prisoners, 
including two general officers. 

Your heroic deeds and noble endurance and privations 
will ever be memorable. Let us return thanks to God for the 
mercy thus shown us, and ask earnestly for its continuation. 
Soldiers, your work is not yet over. The enemy must 
be pursued, and if possible, overcome. The courage and 
fortitude you have displayed, renders your commanding 
General confident your future efforts will result in success. 

While we mourn the loss of many gallant comrades, 
let us remember that the enemy must have suffered equal, 
if not greater, losses. 

We shall soon receive reinforcement which he cannot 
expect. Let us determine to continue vigorously the 
work so well begun, and under God's blessing in short 
time the object of our labors will be accomplished. 

George G. Meade, 

Commanding-General. 

Official — A. Williams, a. a. g. 

^ ^^ '' Lieutenant-General Commanding. 



210 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

Remained on the reserve until the 17th. On the even- 
ing of that day, General Thomas Smyth, commanding 
the brigade, inspected the regiment, and Captain Schoales 
and lyieutenant Robert J. Grogan, both of Company E, 
tendered their resignations, which were accepted. 



THE BATTLE OF SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT-HOUSE. 

MAY 18th. 

During the night the division was moved to the vicinity 
of the Landron House, and formed for the attack in the 
line of brigades. It was hoped that by an early attack the 
enemy might be surprised and his left flank turned. At 
dawn a general advance was made, but, early as it was, the 
enemy were found to be wide awake and fully prepared. 
They were strongly posted in the rifle pits. The ground 
over which the regiment charged was very rough and 
broken, and it was with much difficulty that the regimental 
line was preserved. The command moved forward, how- 
ever, in excellent order, and held the right flank of the 
Irish Brigade. No sooner had the charge begun than the 
movement was discovered by the Confederates, who opened 
with a musketry fire, in which their batteries quickly 
joined, throwing shell and canister. It was a hot fire, but 
failed to break or retard the advancing Union line. Press- 
ing forward and reaching the works to be assaulted, the 
men were confronted by a deep and heavy abattis that 
completely covered the Confederate line, the slashing being 
.so dense that all efforts to penetrate were impossible. The 
Irish Brigade undoubtedly came nearer to getting through 
than any other, many of the men throwing themselves 
forward into the tangled wood and branches in their efforts 
to reach the works. One sergeant of the One Hundred and 
Sixteenth penetrated the mass for eight or ten feet beyond 
any of his comrades, and stood there, waist-deep in the 
abattis, while he loaded and fired three or four times. 




SPOTTSYLVANIA-One year after the Battle. 
(FriW! ,t photograph taken at that ti»ie.) 



THE BATTLE OF SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT-HOUSE. 211 

Many of the men of the regiment were shot after they 
became entangled in the brnsh. The charge was a very 
noble effort, bnt absolutely hopeless. The impracticability 
of reaching the enemy's line, or even piercing the abattis, 
was soon apparent, and the order to fall back was given, 
but not a moment too soon. To hold the men in front of 
the abattis to be shot down would be a useless waste of life. 
They fell back in excellent order, and, under the circum- 
stances, behaved with wonderful steadiness. Every battle 
furnishes incidents and strange sights to be talked over by 
the survivors. Corporals Dick McClean and Daniel J. 
Crawford, of Company K, were chatting together just as 
the charge was ordered. " Do you see the Reb works"? 
said Crawford; "well, I will be killed just as I reach 
there." And he was. He fell shot through the head as 
he came to the abattis. McClean lost his arm a moment 
later at the same spot. As the regiment was falling back, 
a man of Company G, Franz Poffenberger, received, per- 
haps, the most awful injury ever received by any man in 
the command, and still breathed. A solid shot or large 
piece of shell struck him in the body, literally tearing 
him to atoms, breaking the large bones and driving them 
through the flesh. He fell near the colors, and, notwith- 
standing the fearful injuries received, lived, seemingly 
sensible, for half an hour. No matter how terjible the 
surroundings in a fight, there seemed to be a ludicrous 
incident sure to pop up and cause a smile. One of these 
was when Robert Glendenning, of Company K, had his 
wig carried away by a passing shell, and the boys thought 
his head was gone, but he turned up all right, though 
very bald. It was a beautiful spring morning when the 
fight of May i8th took place. The rain had ceased and all 
nature seemed refreshed ; but on the ground occupied and 
fought over by the regiment on this morning, nothing of 
charm or beauty was visible. The dead of the i2th were 
there unburied, and the scene was one of horror, beyond 
the power of language to describe. The sight was hideous, 



212 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

the stench overpowering and sickening. No sooner was 
the fight over than ahnost the entire regiment was ordered 
out to the picket line, remaining there during all the day 
and night, and getting a fearful dose of the offensive sur- 
roundings. The skirmish line ran over the part of the 
battlefield where the deca^dng dead were most numerous. 
During the day the pioneers did all in their power to cover 
up the ghastly sight, by digging up the earth and throw- 
ing it over the bodies ; graves were a luxury not to be 
thought of. Darkness settled over the scene long before 
a tithe of the dead could be hidden from view, and the 
night was passed with the living and the dead mingled 
together. The men of both armies were so totally 
exhausted that many slept standing at their posts, and 
the officers were forced to keep moving along the line 
during the entire night to keep the men awake. Lieu- 
tenant Cosslett and a sergeant, while making the rounds, 
lost their way in the darkness, and wandered among the 
pickets of the enemy, whom they found all fast asleep, 
and hence got back to their own line in safety. Captain 
Frank R. Lieb, of Company G, was in command of the 
brigade picket, and received great praise for the tour of 
duty. It was a night of horror and hardship that will 
never be forgotten by the members of the One Hundred 
and Sixteenth. After daylight on the 19th, Captain Lieb 
was ordered to withdraw the pickets, the corps having 
moved to the left. He found great difficulty in getting 
them away, but succeeded in forming and falling back to 
a wood, pressed by a force of Confederate cavalry that had 
suddenly appeared. When the captain reached the shelter 
of the timber, he fully expected to be captured with all 
his force, but, fortunately, and much to his surprise, he 
found, just emerging from the forest, a force of Union 
cavalry, who charged forward and struck the Confederate 
force in the open. Lieb and his men had the privilege 
and pleasure of witnessing one of the prettiest and most 
spirited hand to hand cavalry fights imaginable. It was 



THE BATTLE OF SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT-HOUSE. 213 

of short duration, however, the Union men forcing the 
Confederates back, and allowing the pickets to withdraw. 
While falling back, one of the men of Company G had his 
leg cut off by a shell, and Lieb and the men put him in a 
blanket and carried him for nearly two miles, but were 
finally forced to leave the poor fellow to die on the roadside. 
During the night of the i8th, the Second Corps moved to 
the vicinity of Anderson's Mills, on the Nye River. 

The glorious fight made by Captain Frank R. Lieb, on 
May i8th, calls for more than a passing notice. The brave 
fight that he made on the skirmish line was witnessed by 
thousands, and General Hancock personally thanked him, 
bringing blushes to his cheeks that were almost as red as 
the blood that was streaming down his face at the moment. 
No time was lost in acknowledging the gallantry of the 
captain, and the following was issued a few days after the 
event : 
Headquarters Second Brigade, First Division, 
Second Corps. 
(Orders) June ist, 1864. 

The following is an extract from a communication just 
received from Headquarters First Division : 

" The Brigadier-General commanding division desires 
that Captain F, R. Lieb, One Hundred and Sixteenth 
Pennsylvania Volunteers, and Lieutenant Lynch, Com- 
pany A, Sixty-ninth New York Volunteers, be in some 
way commended for their gallantry while on duty on the 
picket line lately. 

It is with great satisfaction that the Colonel command- 
ing the brigade communicates the above to the command, 
and he hopes that for the creditable manner in which those 
officers have conducted themselves, they may be duly 
rewarded whenever an occasion may present itself. 

By order of Colonel R. Byrnes, 

Commanding Brigade. 

(Signed) P. N. Black, 

Lieutenant and A. A. A. G. 

The above bore the following indorsements : 



214 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

" This is a case worthy of attention. Captain Lieb's 
recommendations are such that I have no hesitation in 
endorsing them, and recommend a favorable result to his 
application. Respectfully forwarded, 

WiNFiELD S. Hancock, 

Major-General, U. S. A. 

"The within order complimentary to Captain F. R. 
Ivieb, late of the One Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteers, is heartily endorsed." 

U. S. Grant. 

In addition to this the Captain was raised to the rank 
of Major, by brevet, and all the honors were well deserved, 
by one of the most unassuming, gentlest and bravest of 
men. Captain Lieb was not the only one distinguished 
for bravery on the i8th. Sergeant Alex. Chisholm and 
private Alfred Bails did a very noble act in rescuing a 
wounded comrade, 'though of another regiment and 
corps. After the fight, and when the command had fallen 
back behind the breast- works, a wounded soldier was seen 
lying out between the lines among the dead. He was 
fearfully wounded, and his limbs were crushed. Lieuten- 
ant Cope called for soine one to volunteer and go out with 
him to bring the poor fellow in. Chisholm and Bails 
grabbed up a blanket, jumped over the revetment, ran out to 
where the man was lying, rolled him over into the blanket 
and succeeded in getting him in. Fortunately, neither of 
them were hit, but it was a close call, as the balls whistled 
wickedly around them ; most likely, however, the Confed- 
erates fired a little wild, and were not over anxious to kill, 
like our own men, they admired bravery, and were more 
than willing to give a gallant soul a chance for life. 

The 19th was a quiet day of perfect stillness until about 
4 o'clock in the afternoon, when a burst of firing on the 
right told of a Confederate attack. The assault proved to 
be an attack by General Ewell, who had struck the right 



THE BATTLE OF SPOTTSYIvVANIA COURT-HOUSE. 215 

of the Second Corps on the Fredericksburg road, at that 
time the line of supply. The regiment was promptly 
under arms, but the attack was beaten off without the One 
Hundred and Sixteenth being called out of bivouac. 
This attack of Ewell was the reason of the regiment 
getting a good night's rest, for had it not taken place, the 
command would have marched at midnight, or shortly 
after that hour, as the following order had already been 
received at Corps Headquarters : 

Headquarters Army of the Potomac. 

May 19th, 1864, 1.30 p. M. 
Major-General Hancock, 

Commanding Second Corps. 

The Major-General commanding directs that you move 
with your corps to-morrow, at 2 a. m ., to Bowling Green 
and Milford Station, via^ Guinea Station, and take position 
on the right bank of the Mattapony, if practicable. Should 
you encounter the enemy, you will attack him vigorously, 
and report immediately to these headquarters, which you 
will keep advised of your progress, from time to time. 
Brigadier-General Torbert, with a cavalry force and a 
battery of horse artillery, is ordered to report to you for 
duty. An engineer officer and guide will be sent to you. 
Canvas pontoons will likewise be put at your disposal. 

A. A. Humphreys, 

Major-General, Chief of Staff. 

On the 20th, General Thomas A. Smyth, who had 
commanded the Irish Brigade during the spring cam- 
paign up to this date, was assigned to a brigade in the 
Second Division. He was succeeded by the senior officer 
of the brigade, Colonel Richard B^rne, of the Twenty- 
eighth Massachusetts. The departure of General Smyth 
was deeply regretted by every one. He was a very hand- 
some man, of commanding appearance, winning and 
lovable, a noble soldier of great talent. He had been a 



216 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

soldier from early youth, having participated in an ill-fated 
expedition to Central America in 1854, where he saw some 
hard service. He had entered the field in the very begin- 
ning of the war, and rose rapidly to command of the First 
Regiment, Delaware Infantry. He was mortally wounded 
at Farmville, Va. , a day or two before the surrender of the 
Confederate Army, and lived until the next morning. 
General Grant called at the farm house where he was 
dying and told him of the triumph of the Union cause. 
He breathed his last a few moments afterwards, cheered 
by the knowledge that his life was not given in vain. He 
was, perhaps, the last officer killed in the war ; certainly 
the last general officer. He is buried at Wilmington, Del., 
on the banks of the historic Brandywine. 

Instead of marching at 2 A. m., on the morning of the 
20th, the troops remained in bivouac until 10 p. M. of that 
day, and then marched all night, the men in excellent 
spirits, having recovered from the fatigue of the i8th by 
the twenty-four hours' rest ; crossed the Fredericksburg 
and Richmond Railroad, and at daybreak on the morning 
of the 2ist, reached Guinea Station. Here the Union 
cavalry met and drove in the videttes of the enemy ; and 
after a slight halt on the road, pushed on and reached 
Bowling Green at 10 o'clock, and Milford Station at 
about noon. Colonel Mulholland, who was wounded on 
May loth, rejoined the regiment on this day. 

Here the cavalry under General Torbert had a lively 
fight with the enemy's infantry that he found entrenched 
on the north bank of the Mattapony. By a most brilliant 
dash Torbert captured the rifle pits, taking sixty prisoners 
of Kemper's Brigade, driving the balance across the river 
and saving the bridge. Barlow's and Gibbons's divisions 
crossed the stream promptly. The men of the regiment 
wading through the water, pushed on for a mile and began 
entrenching on the high lands on the south bank. 

The firing sounded heavy as the enemy retired, but the 
regiment lost none. Worked on the entrenchments until 



THE BATTLE OF SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT-HOUSE. 217 

quite dark and resumed digging early on the morning of 
the 22d. The day was warm and the work trying. 
Captain Nowlen, overcome by the heat, fainted in the 
trenches but refused to go to the rear even for an hour. 
The works were completed by noon and then a grateful 
rest, but not without anxiety on the part of all. 

The Second Corps occupied a position on the extreme 
left flank of the v/hole army, far from supports and no one 
knew the moment that it might be called upon to meet 
the attack of a much larger force. However, when the 
entrenchments were finished, all rested easy, as the works 
were of the strongest character and were viewed by the 
officers of the other corps with astonishment and admira- 
tion. One could hardly believe that men could construct 
works of so powerful a nature in so short a time. 

May 23d, roll call at day-break, and marched at 9 A. m. 
as rear guard of the Second Corps. Arrived at the North 
Anna River near Chesterfield in the afternoon and found 
the cavalry engaged in trying to drive the enemy across 
and capture the bridge. The Union artillery formed on 
the high lands of the north bank and opened fire on the 
enemy's infantry that could be seen forming on the opposite 
bank. In the evening the troops charged across the fields 
and drove the enemy from a small redoubt that covered 
the bridge, capturing the works, some few prisoners and 
saving the bridge that the retiring troops endeavored to 
burn. 

The fighting had been severe and the cannonading 
heavy, but with but slight loss in the regiment during the 
afternoon. Rested on arms all night and crossed the river 
early on the 24th on a pontoon bridge that had been laid 
by the engineers. The firing and fighting was severe 
during the whole day and the position the regiment had 
was a very trying one, supposed to be on reserve yet so 
close to the line of battle that the men were exposed and 
for a large part of the day were under fire. 



218 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

The wounded were carried past in great numbers and 
many of the wounds were of the most ghastly description. 
Everyone would rather have been in the front line where 
they could have been firing and join in the excitement of 
the fray rather than be waiting during the long day under 
fire and witnessing the depressing scenes in the rear. 

The regiment was very fortunate, however, in losing 
but few men in the fight of the North Anna. The fight 
continued all day of the 24th and late into the night and 
was renewed early on the morning of the 25th, lasting all 
day. The artillery fire was incessant and heavy, but the 
position occupied by the One Hundred and Sixteenth was 
sheltered and the fire passed over, the shells exploding far 
in the rear and hence the loss was light. 

May 26th, roll call at 4 p. m. A morning of exciting 
rumors, and at eight o'clock the regiment was detailed to 
destroy the tracks of the Fredericksburg and Richmond 
Railroad near Milford Station. Crossed to the north bank 
of the river and soon got to work ripping up the track 
and destroying the rails. Immense fires were made with 
the ties over which the iron rails were laid and, when red 
hot, were bent out of shape. A good day's work was 
done, everyone turning in with a will and enjoying the 
novelty of the employment. 

During the afternoon some of the enemy's cavalry 
succeeded in getting around in the rear of the Union 
Army and amused themselves by firing at a very long 
range at the members of the regiment who were at work. 
A squadron of cavalry went after them, charged the distant 
wood that sheltered them and drove them away. After 
night-fall returned to the brigade, drew rations, returned 
to the north bank of the river and rested until morning. 

May 27th, marched at 10 A. m. A long and trying day, 
dusty roads, heat oppressive and water scarce, but men 
cheerful and all filled with hope that soon a great victory 
would reward the labor and suffering. Passed en route 



THE BATTLE OF SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT-HOUSE. 219- 

Concord Church ind camped at lo p. m., within three 
miles of the Pamunky River. . 

May 28th, roll call at day-break, marched at 6 A. M. 
and reached the banks of the river. Crossed at noon at 
Huntley's, about four miles above Hanovertown, advanced 
some distance and formed line of battle between the river 
and Haw's Shop, stacked arms and started vigorously to 
work digging rifle pits and getting under cover. 

Heavy and continuous firing heard in the front, where 
Sheridan and his cavalry were having a severe fight with 
the enemy's cavalry reinforced with some of their infantry. 
Night came and we learned that Sheridan had driven the 
enemy towards Richmond. 

May 29th, completed the rifle pits and at 11 a.m. 
resumed the march to the front and towards the Toto- 
potomy. The enemy reported close at hand and everyone 
expected a general engagement. The march was slow, the 
Irish Brigade and Barlow's Division in the advance, and, 
after reaching Haw's Shop, saw the evidence of the cavalry 
fight on the previous day. Dead men and horses were 
lying in the roads and fields everywhere. The trees were 
torn by the shells, fences levelled and farm houses and 
barns filled with wounded. 

Barlow's Division met with no opposition until the 
column arrived at the junction of the Cold Harbor and 
Hanover Court House roads, when some cavalry disputed 
the way, but were quickly driven back. On the Toto- 
potomy the enemy were found in force, strongly entrenched, 
and line of battle was formed. Birney's and Gibbons's 
Divisions of the Second Corps coming up and forming on 
Barlow's right and left. The corps' artillery went into 
position along the ridge, and the prospects were that a 
great battle was close at hand. Colonel Mulholland was 
detailed as corps officer of the day, and put in command of 
the picket line. 

May 30th, heavy artillery duel nearly all day, but 
towards evening the Union guns succeeded in silencing 



•220 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

those of the enemy. A delightful summer day, with 
charges on the enemy's works at intervals. General 
Brooke with his brigade carried the Confederate rifle-pits 
in a dashing^ fiffht. 

May 31st, the battle was continued. Early in the day 
General Hancock, with the Second Corps, resumed his 
efforts to force the crossing of the river. The whole corps' 
line of battle was forced close up to that of the enemy at 
all points, but the position was found too strong to carry. 

The skirmishing and fighting on the picket line was 
heavy and incessant, and amounted almost to a battle. 
Colonel Mulholland, in command of the line, was shot 
through the body, and many men of the regiment, who 
were on the line, were killed and wounded. 

lyieutenant Yocum, with a detail of the command, 
gained new laurels by charging and capturing a part of 
the Confederate line, but lost nearly all his men. Two 
balls passed through the lieutenant's blouse, but he was 
unhurt. The losses in the Second Corps at the battles of 
the North Anna, Pamunky and Totopotomy were 1,651 
officers and men killed, wounded and missing. The few 
reported missing were, no doubt, nearly all killed, as but 
few prisoners were taken by the enemy. 

During the battle of Totopotomy an amusing, but 
rather tragic incident occurred. While a limber chest of 
one of the batteries was being refilled with ammunition in 
the yard of a farm house in the rear, a negro woman, 
crazed with excitement and fright, came out of the kitchen 
with a shovelful of hot coals, which she emptied into the 
chest. In the explosion that followed two of the artillerists 
were killed, while the woman escaped uninjured. A most 
ludicrous incident of the battle was the cool request, in 
writing, in language more vigorous than polite, and coming 
from some ladies living in a house that stood in the line of 
battle. They desired that General Hancock would change 
the line of battle so that they would not be disturbed. The 
general was a very courteous man, indeed, but could not 



THE BATTLE OF SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT-HOUSE. 221' 

comply with their wishes. He sent an ambulance, however, 
to convey them to a place of safety. They positively 
refused to leave the house, and remained in the cellar, 
while many shells struck the house. They were Confederate 
missiles, and had the ladies been injured it would have 
been at the hands of their friends. Nevertheless, they 
notified the general that " if any of them were killed their 
blood would rest on his soul forever". Fortunate for all, 
the ladies lived through the battle unharmed. 

June ist, remained in the rifle-pits all day, the firing 
being continuous, as the pickets were engaged incessantly. 
A rigid inspection of the regiment at 5 P. M., and orders to 
march after nightfall. After dark withdrew from the line 
of the Totopotomy, and began marching for Cold Harbor. 
Marched all night and arrived near the coming battlefield 
on June 2d. 



:222 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 



CHAPTER XI. 

COLD HARBOR. 

npHE night inarch to Cold Harbor was one of the most 
-*- trying experiences. It was very dark and very warm, 
the dust stifling and no water to be had. The road was 
unknown, and Captain Paine, of the Engineers, who was 
sent to lead the column and show the way, in his efforts to 
find a short cut, got the troops entangled in by-paths where 
artillery could not follow and miich time was lost. In 
consequence the head of the Second Corps did not reach 
Cold Harbor until 6. 30 a. m. , too late to move to the attack 
that had been ordered for the morning of the 2d and which 
was changed to five o'clock in the afternoon. 

The men were in an extremely exhausted condition, 
and the day was spent in throwing up earth-works and in 
resting. Some firing took- place during the day and several 
of the men of the regiment were wounded. Lieutenant 
Cosslett was sent with a detail for entrenching tools, and, 
on returning, the men were seen by the men of a Confed- 
erate battery who opened fire and caused the party to run 
for the shelter of the works. It was a close call but no 
one was hit. 

The regiment held the right of the brigade and rested 
in an apple orchard, and when the men had an opportunity 
they would pull the green apples and eat them, from the 
effects of which it is feared that some of them suffered 
more than from the bullets of the enemy. 

The sharpshooters were vigilant during the day and 
gave but little chance to climb trees in search of fruit. 



COLD HARBOR. 223 

Color-Sergeant T. A. Sloan concluded to cook a cup of 
coJGfee and, starting a small fire with pieces of cracker 
boxes, held his tin-cup over the blaze. Just as it was 
beginning to boil a rifle ball knocked the cup out of his 
hand and spoiled the anticipated meal. 

During the afternoon the order to attack was counter- 
manded and the assault was postponed until day-break 
next morning. At 5 P. M. the rain began to fall, a great 
relief from the oppressive dust and heat. 

The men of the regiment slept soundly during the 
night of June 2d. Everyone was so exhausted that they 
slept even when the artillery was roaring. 

Sergeant William Chambers, of Company C, was 
fortunate enough to possess a blanket, and at day-break 
the next morning he awoke and remarked to his comrades 
with whom he had shared the cover : " This is my birth- 
day. I wonder what kind of a present I will receive ?" Five 
minutes afterwards he received a ball in his arm — not 
exactly the kind of a present he desired. His birth-day 
was spent in wandering around the field hospitals, trying 
to get his wound dressed and pouring water over the limb 
in a vain effort to keep down the inflammation. x\t night, 
when he finally found a heap of straw to lay down on, he 
was astonished to find on each side his two companions of 
the night before, both wounded, and the same blanket 
covered the three again. 

At 4.30 A. M. the battle of Cold Harbor began by the 
advance of the Second Corps, Barlow's and Gibbons's 
Divisions in the front line, supported by Birney's Division. 
The fight was short, sharp and decisive. It was not the 
enemy that was surprised this morning, as they were on 
May 1 2th, but it was the Union troops that were astonished. 
No sooner had the attacking party began moving than the 
enemy opened fire, and a terrible and destructive fire it 
was, sweeping the ground in all directions. The Irish 
Brigade was in the second line, but soon caught up with 
those in the front and joined in the fray. 



224 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

The Confederates were found strongly posted in a 
sunken road in front of their works, from which they were 
driven after a severe fight and followed into their works. 
Three hundred prisoners, one color and three pieces of 
artillery were captured in the first rush, but the victory 
was quickly turned into a most disastrous defeat. Many 
of the troops succeeded in gaining the main works of the 
enemy and the men of Barlow's Division exhibited a 
wonderful persistency in holding to the captured works, 
but they were soon forced out by the heavily reinforced 
Confederates and fell back exposed to a severe musketry 
and artillery fire. 

Failing back a short distance the defeated troops halted 
about seventy-five yards from the enemy's line and quickly 
covered themselves with rifle pits or took advantage of 
such shelter as the broken ground afforded. The One 
Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment was halted and aligned 
in a ravine, ordered to lie down and had to remain in that 
position for an hour exposed to not only a direct but an en- 
filading fire of the batteries, which threw shell and canister. 
So long as the men could hug the ground the loss was not 
great, as the pieces could not be depressed sufficiently to 
strike the line, but when the attempt was made to withdraw 
from the position the men felt the full force of the fire. 

The order was given to go back at a run, but the 
command had to ascend a hill in the rear and as the men 
were absolutely without shelter they fell in great numbers. 
Reaching the crest of the hill the regiment was rallied and 
aligned. Captain Taggart, Lieutenant Yocum and others 
of the officers displaying great bravery in reforming, still 
under a heavy fire. 

The Battle of Cold Harbor was less than one hour in 
duration, yet one of the most bloody battles of the war. 
The Second Corps lost in a short half hour 3,000 men and 
officers. Among the latter were many of the most trusted 
and best brigade and regimental commanders. The One 
Hundred and Sixteenth lost seventy men and officers, 



COLD HARBOR. 225 

killed and wounded, and among the latter were Captains 
Lieb, Cosslett and Crawford and Lieutenants Sacriste and 
Wright. The wound of Captain Frank R. L,ieb was of 
such a severe nature, his foot being destroyed, that he 
never rejoined the regiment, and the command lost a most 
gallant and excellent officer. Colonel Richard Byrne 
(Twenty-eighth Massachusetts Infantry), commanding the 
Irish Brigade, was mortally wounded and died in the field 
hospital where he lingered for a few days. He was captain 
of cavalry in the Regular Army and had been detailed 
to command the Twenty-eighth Massachusetts Regiment, 
and as senior colonel was present in command of the 
brigade. He was strict, reserved and reticent, and one 
who did not know him would think him severe, but he 
was a man who did his full duty and expected everyone 
else to come up to the full measure of all demands. To 
those who knew him best he was kindly and lovable. A 
few days before the battle he had some words with Captain 
Lieb, then commanding the One Hundred and Sixteenth, 
and may have been a little harsh in his remarks, but when 
borne to the field hospital and learning that Lieb was there 
also, he had himself carried to where the Captain was 
lying and the dying officer apologized in the most courte- 
ous manner for anything rude that he might have said. 

After the repulse of our army (and that repulse had 
been uniform along the whole six miles of the battle line) 
the troops clung tenaciously to the ground. Spade, bayo- 
net, tin-plate and knife, anything that would throw up a 
little dirt was used to throw up the earth and assist to get 
under cover. From time to time bursts of firing occurred 
along the line and the sharpshooters were so vigilant 
during the 3d and following days that it was impossible to 
expose even a hand without being fired at. And to show 
a head meant instant death. 

The suffering from thirst was very great, and it was 
impossible to get water without a serious risk. Corporal 
Lot Turney, Company E, volunteered to fill some canteens 



226 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

at a spring, but was instantly shot through the head. 
Another corporal of this company, Aaron Tomlinson, was 
not so anxious for water as he was for food ; his leg was 
cut off by a shell, and he lay mortally wounded, but 
positively refused to allow the stretcher carriers to take 
him to the hospital, unless he was allowed to take his 
haversack full of crackers along with him. Captain 
William M. Hobart, Company A, who was serving on the 
division staff, greatly distinguished himself during the 
battle by carrying an order to Arnold's Battery that had 
been accidentally left between the lines. He was so much 
exposed that his escape from the fire of the enemy's sharp- 
shooters seemed miraculous, his horse being killed. Color 
Sergeant T. A. Sloan was wounded by a shell when 
advancing on the morning of the 3d. Then it was that 
the young boy. Corporal James M. Seitzinger, of Com- 
pany G, rushed forward and raised the flag, and waving it 
aloft he called to his father, "Go in. Pap; I'm coming." 
He was promoted sergeant on the field, and complimented 
by the colonel commanding. 

Headquarters ii6th Regiment, Pennsylvania 
Volunteers. 
Sergeant James M. Seitzinger, Company G : 

The colonel commanding directs me to express to you 
his gratification upon learning of your very gallant and 
meritorious conduct in bearing the colors of the regiment 
in the late engagement at Cold Harbor, June 3d. 

By order of 
Colonel St. Clair A. Mulholland. 
Francis A. McGuigan, 

First Lieutenant and Acting Adjutant. 

But young Seitzinger was too small and slender to 
carry the large flag, and he reluctantly surrendered the 
dangerous honor to Sergeant Peter Kelly, of Company D, 
who had volunteered. 



COIvD HARBOR. 227 

Dr. Albert W. Hendricks, of Company F, was brigade 
hospital steward during the Cold Harbor fight, and he after- 
wards wrote of the day : " From the evening of May 27th, 
1864, to the night of June 4th our forces in the hospital de- 
partments were busily engaged in performing amputations 
and dressing the wounded brave men who faced the various 
charges in the bloody battle of Cold Harbor. As the 
wounded were brought in on stretchers, or in the am- 
bulance, those of them who could speak were by the 
surgeons requested to give their names, and the singularity 
with which the answer came, "The ii6th Regiment, 
Pennsylvania Volunteers," led us to believe a general 
and thorough decimation of the regiment had taken 
place. I witnessed their bravery, their fortitude in suffer- 
ing, and the noble manner in which thev sacrificed life and 
limb in devotion to their country's cause. Oh, how 
grandly they gave all — even life. Regiment after regiment 
has its history, brave men their tales of glorious deeds, but 
no regiment, nor no men can tell with truth its history of 
battle, its sacrifices or devotion in time of danger, sur- 
passing the One Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment of 
Pennsylvania Volunteers. On every field of battle in 
which it was engaged, there remains a monument to its 
valor in comrades slain ". 

The regiment remained in the works at Cold Harbor 
until the night of June 12th, and during the time there 
was not a moment, night or day, that rest was known. 
Roll-call was at 3 p. m., and from that hour until darkness 
came again there was no moment of peace. 

On the 5th, the position of the regiment was changed 
half a mile to the right, and on that evening at eight 
o'clock the enemy made a vigorous attack, which was 
repulsed. The dead and wounded of the Union Army 
remained on the field between the lines until a truce was 
arranged on the 7th. For five days the thousands of 
wounded men had been lying under the boiling sun 
without even a mouthful of water. Many had been killed 



228 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

by the cross fire, and when the truce was declared there 
were but few left to tell the awful tale of their intense 
suifering. The details from the regiment for picket were 
frequent and large, and, once on the skirmish line, there 
was no chance of being relieved until after dark the 
following night. Every man had to get under cover, dig 
a hole the best way he knew how and get into it. The 
lines were very close, at some places only a few feet 
separated the men, and while Lieutenant Frank McGuigan 
was on the line, a Confederate lieutenant walked into his 
pit and became his prisoner, very much astonished, indeed, 
that he had wandered from his own line. 

On the evening of June 12th, the army quietly with- 
drew from the works at Cold Harbor and began moving to 
the left, the regiment marching all night. 

When the battle of Cold Harbor closed, within an hour 
of the first shot being fired, the One Hundred and Sixteenth 
Regiment had finished the first month of the campaign of 
1864. Two officers had been killed, Lieutenant-Colonel 
Richard C. Dale and Lieutenant Henry Kiel. 

Nine officers had been wounded, several of them more 
than once. Colonel Mulholland at the Wilderness, May 
5th ; Po River, May loth ; Totopotomy, May 31st. Cap- 
tains Lieb, Crawford and Cosslett, and Lieutenants Sac- 
riste, Alston, Vanderhyden, Wright, Springer and Yocum. 
Fifty men had been killed, one hundred and twenty 
wounded and thirty missing, the larger number of the 
latter, no doubt, killed, making an aggregate loss during 
the month of May of two hundred and eleven men. 

The regiment had been under fire almost every day of 
the time in the Wilderness : May 5th and 6th, at Todd's 
Tavern ; May 8th, at Po River ; May loth, at Spottsyl- 
vania ; May 12th and 13th, at Spottsylvania again ; May 
i8th, 19th and 21st, on the south bank of the Mattopony ; 
May 23d, 24th and 25th, at the North Anna ; May 28th, 
on the south side of the Pamunkey ; May 29th, 30th and 
31st, on the Totopotomy, and on June 2d, 3d, and 4th, 



COLD HARBOR. 229 

at Cold Harbor, making nineteen days out of thirty- 
one that the regiment was actually in battle and under 
fire. No wonder the loss was over two hundred in killed 
and wounded. It is only remarkable that it was not still 
greater. These losses, however, do not include Company 
B, which was at division headquarters, as provost guard, 
nor those who were sent to the rear sick, many of whom 
died of the diseases contracted during this month of con- 
stant fighting, hardship and exposure. The above figures 
tell only of the killed and wounded. 

Neither was the heavy loss of the One Hundred and 
Sixteenth Regiment exceptional. All the army had suf- 
fered quite as severely, and many regiments had lost more, 
in proportion to numbers. The Second Corps had been 
almost annihilated. The official returns of casualties in 
the Army of the Potomac, from May 5th until May 21st, 
were 39,791, and these appalling figures do not include 
the losses of the Ninth Corps, which the writer has no 
means of ascertaining. 

The continuous strain, constant marching, fighting, 
want of sleep, absence of food and water, sleeping when 
a chance offered on the ground without even the slight 
protection of a shelter tent, sometimes in a drenching 
rain, and most times catching an hour's sleep under the 
broiling sun — all this was beginning to tell on the strongest 
constitutions, and even affecting the minds. Lieutenant 
Peter S. Frailey, Company E, had been one of the bravest 
in the beginning, but at Cold Harbor his mind gave way, 
and he was compelled to resign. Captain Michael Schoales 
and Lieutenant Robert J. Grogan, broke down early in the 
month and resigned on the 17th. 

One officer. Captain Wellington Jones, brought disgrace 
on himself by resigning in front of the enemy for no other 
reason than that he could not face the music. 

Several other changes took place among the officers 
during the month. Lieutenant Charles Cosslett was pro- 
moted to Captain of Company E, and mustered in June 



230 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

13th ; First Sergeant Henry Kiel, of that company, was 
commissioned First Lieutenant, but was killed before 
being mustered in, and Color-Sergeant T. A. Sloan was 
promoted to Second Lieutenant of Company E. 

" Blinkey " Bell, of Company K, who distinguished 
himself on the morning of the battle of Spottsylvania, 
was a queer character. He was a veteran when he joined 
the regiment, having enlisted in the Eighty-fifth Pennsyl- 
vania Regiment in the early days of the war, " Blinkey " 
at first failed to see the necessity of many things in mili- 
tary life, to which, by force of circumstances, he afterwards 
became reconciled. Guard and picket duty he could not 
learn for a long time. One evening after dark, while on 
his first tour of duty, "Blinkey" was marching up and 
down on his post when the officer of the day ajDproached. 
•Without a salute or challenge "Blinkey" was allowing 
him to pass. The Lieutenant, disgusted at the seeming 
ignorance of the sentinel, siezed his musket to show him 
how he should have acted. " Now, Bell ", said he, " walk 
off a short distance and then approach me, and when I 
challenge, you must say, ' Friend with the countersign ' ". 
" Blinkey " obeyed, and when nearing the officer was 
confronted with a loud " Halt ! who goes there " ? and a 
bayonet leveled at his breast. " Blinkey ", to say the 
least, was astonished at what seemed to him to be a very 
rude way of greeting an acquaintance, and after catching 
his breath, exclaimed in a startled voice full of sweet con- 
fidence : " Oh ! I say, now, look here Lieutenant, don't you 
know 'Blinkey' Bell?" 

" Blinkey " was certainly a little green in those days, 
but no braver or better soldier died in the Bloody Angle 
at Spottsylvania than Henry J. Bell. 



PETERSBURG. 231 



CHAPTER XII. 



PETERSBURG. 



A FTER dark on June 12th the Second Corps withdrew 
-^^ in silence from the line of Cold Harbor. Not a 
sound broke the stillness of the summer night. The men 
had learned very thoroughly when to make a noise and 
when to keep still, and on this occasion no extra cautioning 
of the troops was found necessary. 

Every man had his tin cup tied fast and his tin plate, 
if he was rich enough to have one, safely stowed in his 
haversack, so when the movement was begun there was 
not a rattle or a jingle to be heard. The picket was not 
notified nor relieved until the army had been gone for 
some hours, and it was thought by almost everyone that the 
detail would be lost ; but a very judicious officer, Lieutenant- 
Colonel Hammill, of the Sixty-sixth New York, was in com- 
mand, and he succeeded in quietly withdrawing, with a few 
exceptions, all the men from the picket line. Forming 
them in the dark, he moved in quick time after the corps 
and succeeded in overtaking the main body before noon of 
the 13th. 

Captain Charles Cosslett, of the One Hundred and 
Sixteenth, was in charge of the detail from the regiment 
and succeeded in bringing all in safely. It was a narrow 
escape and all were rejoiced to get away, as they were told 
when going out on the line that it was to be "killed or 
captured." 

The Second Corps marched all the night of the 12th 
and reached White Oak Bridge, on the Chickahominy, at 



232 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

daylight on the 13th, Marched all day on the 13th, 
through White Oak Swamp, and reached Wilcox Landing, 
on the James River, before sundown. When, on the 
evening of the 12th, the column of retiring troops had 
cleared the works and gotten well under way, a thrill of 
pleasure passed through the ranks, all were so rejoiced to 
leave the lines of Cold Harbor ; and when the men knew 
that they were far enough away from the enemy not to be 
heard they burst into song. Many a long march was 
enlivened in this way. Some musical member would 
start a patriotic song, and the whole regiment, joining in 
the chorus, would go swinging along hour after hour, 
forgetting the fatigue and hardship. " The Sword of 
Bunker Hill " was a favorite and hundreds of voices 
would make the Virginia night resound and the dark 
woods re-echo to the music : 

"The old man died, but in his hand 
His sword he retained still, 
And thirty millions lived to bless 
The sword of Bunker Hill." 

It was thirty millions during the war. Now, thirty 
years after, it is seventy millions ; and how many hundreds 
of millions will in the future bless " The Sword of Bunker 
Hill"? 

The march from Cold Harbor to the James was over 
historic ground. Two hundred and fifty years before. 
Captain John Smith, "the father of Virginia," was taken 
prisoner by the Indians here and surprised his caj^tors by 
showing his watch and compass, and, after being carried 
from tribe to tribe as a curiosity, was finally doomed to 
die. Then it was that the gentle Pocahontas encircled his 
head with her arms, begging for his life, and induced her 
father, the Chief Powhatan, to spare the brave English- 
man. And here in the forests of the Chickahominy, John 
Wolfe wooed and won the sweet young Indian maiden and 
carried her off to Eng^land never to return to Virginia 



PETERSBURG. 233 

again, but in a foreign land to droop and die so young. 
The blood of the heroine still flows in the land of her 
childhood, for some of the best known families in Virginia 
are descended from the one son that was left by the Lady 
Rebecca, as Pocahontas was called in England. 

The peninsula of the Chickahominy had been the scene 
uf fierce and bloody war two hundred years before the 
Union Army appeared. During the life of Powhatan peace 
reigned along the valley of the James, but after his death 
and after the influence and memory of his g-entle dauo^hter 
Pocahontas were forgotten, Opecancanough, the brother 
of Powhatan, became chief. Observing with sorrow the 
decline of his people and the encroachment of the whites, 
he resolved to destro}- them. A bundle of arrows wrapped 
in the skin of a rattlesnake sent to the English Governor 
was the declaration of war and massacre that continued at 
intervals for twenty years and ended in the extermination 
of the red men. 

When the Second Corps massed on the banks of the 
James River it bivouaced on the spot where the founda- 
tion and prime reason of the War of Secession was laid in 
September, 1620. In that month a small Dutch vessel 
landed here twenty negroes from Africa who were sold to 
the planters as slaves. Within ten days from the landing 
of those slaves on the shores of the James River the 
" Mayflower " landed on the shores of Massachusetts a 
cargo of very different character — a set of men and women 
who had fled from slavery and come to the new land in 
search of freedom. The lowering storm that hung over 
the bay as the Pilgrim fathers leaped on the Plymouth 
Rock seemed to herald a life of strife for principle, and a 
struggle that culminated at Appomattox. 

As the years rolled by the people of the South, by force 
of circumstances, naturally became more attached to the 
institution of human slavery. It had been shorn of its 
chief horrors, the slave ship was a thing of history, and in 



234 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

many cases the slaves had come to be regarded as members 
of the family in which they resided and were often regarded 
with affection. But to the descendants of the Pilgrim 
fathers the years failed to soften the hatred of slavery in 
all its forms. It was so totally in opposition to the 
Puritan's faith in which all of his descendants and nearly 
all the people of the North held almost as firmly as the 
original passengers of the "Mayflower." And so the 
armies of the North and South were here on the very spot 
where slavery was founded, and the descendants of the 
Pilgrim fathers and those who believed with them that 
human slavery was a crime were there in force and in 
earnest. 

Much has been said and harsh feelings engendered in 
the two sections of our country endeavoring to fix the 
blame of originating the war on the North and South, but 
happily these feelings are becoming less harsh as time 
rolls on, and now the spirit of mutual love, patriotism and 
friendship is possessing the whole country. Had that 
little ship from the Netherlands never brought that cargo 
of negroes from Africa to the South, we never would have 
had the War of Secession ; and would it not be a good idea 
for the future to stop all recrimination and further argu- 
ment on a subject so harsh and so fruitful of bad humor 
by putting the blame where it properly belongs — on the 
Diitch ! 

When, on the evening of the 13th, the regiment reached 
the north bank of the James, no time was lost in entrench- 
ing. The men were tired, but were never too weary to 
get under cover. When the line of works was finished a 
grateful night's rest followed. June 14th, the Second 
Corps began crossing the James River to the south side, 
but the means of transportation were limited, and the 
regiment did not cross until the evening. During the 
day the men rested, and some of them spent a pleasant 
hour or two in fishing, and were quite successful. All 
the hardships and fighting of the past two weeks were 



PETERSBURG. 235 

forgotten in the hunt for fishing tackle and bait, and the 
fish caught were a treat, for the commissary was very low. 
At dusk the regiment fell in, marched a short distance to 
Wilcox Landing, crossed on a ferryboat, and landed on 
the south side at Windmill Point. Rested until ii A. M. 
on the 15th, and took up the line of march for Petersburg, 
seventeen miles. It was understood that three days' 
rations would be issued before starting, but no commis- 
sary stores arrived, and the Second Corps began the 
long march in a very hungry condition indeed. The 
march was severe and trying, the day hot and the water 
scarce. The route of Barlow's Division, and, in conse- 
quence, that of the regiment, lengthened out to twenty 
miles, and the column did not reach Petersburg until 
nearly midnight, and were cheered upon their arrival by 
seeing sixteen field pieces that the negro troops, under 
General Hincks, had captured during the afternoon. 

BATTLE OF JUNE i6th. 

Roll call at daybreak, and in the morning moved a 
short distance, passing the colored division of General 
Hincks. The negroes had abundance of rations, and 
liberally shared with the men of the regiment. Never 
did the army cracker and raw salt pork taste so sweet. 
No meal prepared by the most accomplished cook could 
have been relished better than that furnished by the 
colored troops. About noon, drew full supplies of rations 
from General Butler's commissary. Built earth-works, and 
towards evening prepared to advance and assault the 
enemy's line of works. 

Petersburg was defended by a line of entrenchments 
surrounding the city at a distance of two miles from it. 
The defences consisted of a series of well-constructed 
redans connected by infantry parapets with ditches, and 
nearly all covered by slight abattis. 

During the afternoon of the 15th, five of the redans 
had been taken by the colored troops, but during the night 



236 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

of the 15th, and morning of the i6th, the Confederate 
troops had been coming up, occupying and strengthening 
the works ; and when, on the afternoon of the i6th, it was 
finally determined to storm the enemy's line, their works 
had become too strong to carry by direct assault. The 
attempt was made, however, and at 6 o'clock in the even- 
ing, the Second Corps moved toward the attack. Barlow's 
Division was on the extreme left of the army, and the 
weight of the attack fell upon his division and that of 
General Birney. The regiment charged over broken and 
open ground near the Hare House, where Fort Steadman 
was afterwards built. No sooner had the line started than 
the Confederate batteries opened. The men moved for- 
ward steadily in quick time, keeping the alignment beau- 
tifully, although exposed to a terrible fire of shell and 
musketry, and when within a hundred yards of the enemy, 
took the double quick and went through the slight abattis 
and over the works at a run. For a few moments, a hand- 
to-hand fight took place, the bayonet being used. It was 
soon over, and the Union forces retained possession, captur- 
ing guns and prisoners. General Barlow displayed great 
gallantry in leading the division, cap in hand and cheering 
the men on. It was the most successful and glorious 
charge, and resulted in the capture, by the two divisions 
engaged, of redans 3, 13 and 14, with their guns and con- 
necting works. Among the prisoners were some of the 
oldest and youngest men as yet seen by the troops ; " the 
robbing of the cradle and the grave", as General Grant 
afterwards expressed it, had already begun. The regiment 
lost quite severely in this fight. Lieutenants Detweiler and 
McKnight being severely wounded, the latter losing his 
hand. Forty-six enlisted men were killed, wounded and 
missing. Lieutenant Yocum was knocked senseless by 
the windage of a passing shell, but recovered sufficiently 
to report for duty in a couple of hours. The noble com- 
mander of the Irish Brigade, Colonel Patrick Kelly, was 
killed, being shot through the head. He will ever be 



PETERSBURG. 237 

remembered, by all who knew him, as one of the bravest 
and most lovable of men. Captain B. S. O'Neill, of the 
Sixty-ninth New York, was also killed. He was a very 
handsome man, and much thought of by the men of the 
One Hundred and Sixteenth. He had left Ireland on the 
breaking out of the war, and came to America for the sole 
purpose of joining the Irish Brigade. Every fight seemed 
to have a ludicrous feature, and the one connected with 
the i6th of June was a dull-witted son of Ireland in Com- 
pany I. Daniel Dugan had mysteriously disappeared at 
the beginning of the charge, and next morning when Cap- 
tain Taggart charged him with straggling and deserting 
his command in battle, Dan replied very demurely : "'Ah, 
then, Captain dear, sure its many a poor fellow thats after 
bein hit on the field lasht noight, an' here oi am shtill 
aloive "! 

"Well", replied the Captain, "if you had been killed 
you would have lived in the hearts of your countrymen ". 

"Och, thin", said Dan, "bejabers but its a moighty 
hard place to live in. I'd sonner be liven' on Uncle Sam's 
hard tack"! 

On June 17th, as on the day before, the regiment was 
engaged in an assault on the enemy's works. General 
Barlow led the division in on the right of the Ninth 
Corps, and lost heavily, the firing continuing until long 
after dark. The regiment never looked better than when 
in moving forward in one of the assaults of this day. Not 
until the men got entangled in the abattis, in front of the 
enemy's earth-works, did the lines show any signs of break- 
ing an almost perfect alignment. Several of the men 
succeeded in getting into the works, but were either cap- 
tured or killed. 

June 1 8th, roll call at daybreak. General Hancock, by 
reason of his wound breaking out afresh, was forced to 
relinquish command of the Second Corps, and was suc_ 
ceeded by General David B. Birney. General Birney was 
a Pennsylvanian, a most gallant soldier, and one of the 



238 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

very best of the volunteer officers, who rose to distinction 
and prominence during the war, and as such, he was 
warmly welcomed by the Second Corps. Marched as soon 
as line was formed, to the right, to participate in a heavy 
assault on the enemy's position to the right and left of the 
Prince George Court House Road. Formed behind a hill 
in double column by division, closed in mass, and moved 
forward in support of Mott's Division. The result was a 
bloody repulse. General Gibbons's Division had been 
repulsed earlier in the day on this same ground, and this 
fight ended in the effort to carry the entrenched line of 
Petersburg!! by direct assault. On the evening of June 
i8th, the struggle settled down to a siege operation. The 
loss of the regiment on this afternoon was slight ; three 
men killed and about a dozen wounded. 

June 19th, under arms at daybreak, but no movements 
of importance during the day. At 10 P. m. the enemy 
attacked the advance line, but were repulsed. 

June 20th, roll call at 3.30 a. m. Moved at 8 a. m. 
to the rear, and understood that the regiment, with the 
Second Corps, was on the reserve ; but, as a member 
of the Irish Brigade remarked at Gettysburg, it was 
" Resarved fur hivy foighting "! Grateful rest during the 
day and night, although heavy and continuous firing in 
front and to the right and left. 

June 2ist, reveille at daybreak. Rest was promised to 
the troops, but at 10 a. m. the division moved to the left, 
crossed the Petersburg Plank Road, and advanced several 
miles in the direction of Reams Station, on the Weldon 
Railroad, when the regiment was thrown out as skir- 
mishers, and had a severe skirmish fight while the division 
moved by the right flank, and formed line of battle on the 
left of the Ninth Corps. Threw up strong entrenchments, 
and settled down for a night's rest, but the Sixth Corps 
that was to join on the left failed to connect, leaving a gap 
of nearly a mile, through which a Confederate cavalry 




MAJOR-GENERAL DAVID BELL BIRNEY. 



BATTLE OF WILLIAM'S FARM. 239 

force raided during the niglit, creating alarm and commo- 
tion amongst the teamsters, commissaries and hosjDital 
attendants. 



BATTLE OF WILLIAM'S FARM. 
Or, as the Confederates Cai.i,ed it: "Johnston's Farm". 

JUNE 22, 1864. 

When General Grant finally determined to suspend the 
direct assaults upon the Confederate's positions and begin 
siege operations, both armies began entrenching, the right 
of the Union Army resting on the Appomattox River 
below Petersburg, and for the purpose of cutting the 
Weldon and South Side Railroad, and extending the left of 
the Union line, so as to accomj)lish that object, and, if prac- 
tical, to envelope the whole region on the left of the river. 

The first extension of the line towards the south was 
inaugurated during the night of the 2ist. The Sixth 
Corps came up and formed on the left of the Second ; and 
on the morning of the 22d, the Second Corps was ordered 
to advance, keeping connection on the right with the Fifth 
Corps, on which the Second pivoted, and on the left with 
the Sixth Corps, that was moving slowly through the 
dense woods. Roll call at daybreak, and then rested in 
the entrenchments until nearly noon, when the advance 
began ; but, owing to the greater distance over which the 
Sixth Corps had to march, and the difficulty in penetrating 
the tangled bush of the deep forest, the wheeling move- 
ment to the right was necessarily slow. Finally, General 
Meade, becoming impatient at the progress made, ordered 
the Second Corps to advance without waiting for the Sixth. 
General Birney did as directed, and, as he swung forward, 
the left of the Second Corps left the right of the Sixth 
Corps far in the rear. 

The movement of the Second Corps took place in the 
woods west of the Jerusalem Plank Road and a little south 
of Fort Sedgwick, afterwards known as "Fort Hell". 



240 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

The Confederate line of works running north and south 
turned abruptly within half a mile of the fort, at an angle 
of their line known as "Reeves' Salient," and crossing 
the Plank Road ran directly west. On the 2ist of June 
General Lee, looking across the half mile of open country 
in front of that line and seeing the dense timberland 
beyond, anticipated the very movement that Grant had 
ordered, and on that day he (General Lee) ordered Wilcox 
to take his division, occupy the woods and feel for the 
Union line. Wilcox remained in the forest all day long 
of the 2ist and returned to camp in the evening, reporting 
to General Lee that he had accomplished nothing. On the 
morning of the 22d, Wilcox was again ordered into the 
timber with the same instructions. He formed his line in 
the deep woods south of the Johnston House and seems to 
have quietly rested without making an effort to ascertain 
the whereabouts or purpose of the Union troops. When 
the Second Corps charged front and pivoted on its right, 
which rested near the Plank Road, the left of the First 
Division must have actually passed wathin a few hundred 
yards of Wilcox's line, the latter evidently taking things 
easy and not making a very vigorous search for the Union 
troops, while the left of the Second Corps swung past 
oblivious to the fact that a Confederate division was there 
with orders to strike. When the Second Corps had made 
a half wheel and the line suddenly emerged from the 
woods and stood at right angles with the Plank Road and 
was then parallel with and half or three-quarters of a mile 
distant from the Confederate line that also ran at right 
angles west from the Jerusalem Plank Road, the men of 
the Second Corps promptly stacked arms and began 
entrenching. 

It so happened that General Lee was at that moment 
in a little detached work that had been erected in the field 
two or three hundred yards in front of his main line. To 
his astonishment he saw in the distance the troops of the 
Second Corps vigorously throwing up the dirt at the edge 



BATTLE OF WILLIAM'S FARM. 241 

of the wood and prolonging their line in the direction of 
his right. The ever vigilant and active General Mahone 
was chatting with General L,ee at the time, and seeing a 
chance to hit the left of the Second Corps, which was 
then in the air, suggested to him the feasibility of striking 
with promising results. In a letter from General Mahone 
he tells of June 22, 1864, in his own way : 

Petersburg, May yth, 1895. 

Dear General Mulholland : I am just in receipt 
of your esteemed letter of the 30th ult., and it gives me 
pleasure to comply with your request. 

The "occasion" of the 22d of June, 1864, was fought on 
Johnston's Farm. I enclose a pen diagram of the occasion 
that you may the better understand this letter. On the 
morning of the 21st of June General Wilcox was sent out 
with his division of four brigades, passing on the west side 
of the Johnston House into the woodland beyond to feel 
for the left flank of your line, which at that time had not 
been extended west of the Jerusalem Plank Road, and I 
was directed to move out of the trenches and co-operate 
with Wilcox in any attack he should make upon your 
people, as he should in it uncover my front. General 
Wilcox went out and returned that night failing to discover 
your line. On the morning of the 2 2d of June General 
Wilcox was again sent out to find the left flank of your 
army and to strike it a blow, and my instructions were for 
that day as for the day before. jNIy division occupied the 
intrenched line from the Reeves Salient to the Ravine of 
Lieutenant Run. I had gone out to the detached fort in 
which no artillery had yet been placed as had been 
previously ordered by General Lee. Then and there I 
saw the Federal troops moving in orderly fashion across 
the Plank Road in the direction of the Johnston House, 
the leading regiment halting, stacking arms and the men 
going deliberately to intrenching ; and the next regiment 
passing on and, after clearing the leading regiment, halting, 



242 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

stacking arms and then proceeding to intrench. Thus the 
prolongation of the Federal line west of the Plank Road 
was commenced and proceeded. I did not see or know of 
the second line the Federals were projecting until after 
the engagement which I followed was over. There never 
was a time in all the siege of Petersburg when the detached 
fort could have been of any service. Your projecting front 
line would have been in easy reach of guns in that fort. 
It was not within practicable range of the artillery in the 
intrenched line. That detached fort was a blunder and I 
urged that it should be levelled, that at some time your 
people would take it and use it as a cover to annoy the 
entrenched line, and so precisely it came to pass, but my 
division was not on that front at that time. At this 
juncture, that is, while you were so deliberately projecting 
your line. General Lee came upon the ground and expressed 
a desire that something should be done to arrest the pro- 
gress of the Federal prolongation. General Wilcox, who 
was now supjDosed to be in the very place to deliver a 
telling blow, had not been heard from. In response to 
General Lee's expressed desire, I caused the two right 
brigades of my division to drop quietly to the rear so as to 
avoid discovery and then moved them up the Ravine of 
Lieutenant Run, all the way out of view till reaching the 
open field in front of the Johnston House, and there they 
were formed in line of battle, a skirmish line put out and 
the march commenced so as to strike the head of the 
Federal projecting column. Meanwhile, sending an intel- 
ligent staff officer to find General Wilcox and explain to 
him what I was about and to request that he bear down 
on my firing, that he was in the right position to take the 
Federals in the rear. General Wilcox was found resting 
in the woods and that message delivered, but he did not 
comply, or, in my judgment, we should not only have 
swept from the field all the Federal force west of the Plank 
Road, but materially disorganized your intrenched line 
east of that road. Meanwhile, my two brigades quickly 



BATTLE OF WILLIAM'S FARM. 243 

struck the head of your front projecting column and rolled 
it up like a scroll until we reached the brush where you 
were planting four Napoleons. Here I found that my two 
brigades had been severely depleted in carrying off pris- 
oners, and, after a hurried reconnoissance which disclosed 
that the Federals were in great force on the Plank Road 
and that you had a rear projecting column now rapidly 
falling back on the Plank Road, I determined not to press 
further. 

At this juncture General Wilcox came up, having 
strangely marched out of the timber and all around the 
fringe of the woodland to meet me. I urged him to throw 
in his division and join me with the remnant of my two 
attacking brigades in a vigorous assault on the Plank 
Road. He wanted orders from the corps commander, two 
miles away, so then and there the idea of any further 
advance on my part was abandoned. I held the ground 
until daylight next morning when I withdrew my force, 
meanwhile, repulsing during the night several brisk attacks 
made by the Federals. The right of my two attacking 
brigades luckily swept in front of the second projecting 
column of Federals just far enough away not to be seen, 
for in sending Major Mills in the midst of the fight with 
a message to the right of the attacking force, I cautioned 
him to be careful and not to go too far. I suspected that 
there might be another line of Federals there. He rode 
right into the line of that second projecting column. 

In this little affair, which might have been turned into 
a serious disaster to the Federals had General Wilcox borne 
down on my firing, we captured 1,650 officers and men, a 
large number of muskets, any quantity of tools and four 
splendid Napoleon guns. 

Here, my dear General, of the "occasion" of 22d of 
June, 1864, which I hope may interest you. And with 
best wishes for your every success, I am 

Yours truly, Mahone. 



244 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

In this characteristic letter General Mahone tells the 
story of William's Farm, or, as the Confederates knew it, 
"Johnston's Farm," The attack was to the Union troops 
more than a surprise. It was an astonishment. It so 
happened that the One Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment 
held the extreme left of the Second Corps and, consequently, 
was the first to receive the assault. Charley Barth, of 
Company C, had wandered out to the left and was kneeling 
by some water filling the company canteens when, zip ! 
went a ball into the water. Looking up he saw the Con- 
federates not fifty yards away. As he afterwards remarked, 
he made " a blue streak for the regiment "! 

The startling intelligence he brought could hardly be 
credited, and Lieutenant Cope and Sergeant-Major Burke 
started on a reconnoissance to learn the truth. They, too, 
came tumbling back and had hardly uttered a word of 
warning when suddenly a heavy musketry fire was opened, 
not only from the left flank but from the rear as well. 
The surprise was complete, the attack sudden and totally 
unexpected. Some regiments of the corps seemed para- 
lyzed, the men running in every direction, and many of 
them going directly into the Confederate's ranks. The 
One Hundred and Sixteenth never faltered nor broke, but 
after receiving the first fire quickly replied and made a 
noble stand. It was useless, however, and after a ten 
minutes' ficrht the order came from the brio-ade commander 
to fall back. The regiment moved off by the right flank, 
leaving behind the dead and wounded. Captains Nowlen, 
Megraw and Taggart were everywhere on the line, keeping 
the men together and showing the greatest valor. Lieu- 
tenant Henry D, Price, who was then on the division staff, 
soon learned of the perilous position of the regiment, and 
galloping down the left where he knew the command was 
surrounded, he threw himself into the midst of the men, 
urging them to retire fighting. He exhibited in the hour 
of trial the highest qualities of the brave soldier that he 
was. Captain Nowlen was in command of the regiment 



BATTLE OF WILLIAM'S FARM. 245 

■during the engagement, and he and every one of the 
officers and men behaved in the coolest manner. The 
large majority of the men had been in the field but a few 
weeks, yet they behaved better and exhibited less confusion 
than many of the regiments that had been two or three 
years in the service. The excellent conduct of the officers 
and men was the only thing that saved the organization. 

Passing to the right and still firing, the command 
succeeded in clearing the Confederate line in the rear and 
moved to a position where the division was being rallied by 
General Barlow. Lieutenant Yocum was severely wounded, 
but with twenty of the wounded men got away with the 
regiment. Tom Scarlett and a dozen or so of the men 
were for a time completely hemmed in by the enemy, but, 
hiding in the laurel bushes, they succeeded in evading 
capture although not escaping the fire. While hiding in 
the bush the party got foul of a lot of wild hogs, and the 
grunting and squealing of the animals drew the attention 
of the Confederate cavalrymen who were riding through 
the woods in squads picking up prisoners. The cavalry- 
men fired at the sound and not only hit the hogs but some 
of the men as well. 

Captain Cosslett, Lieutenant Cope and Sergeant-Major 
Burke were captured and spent many months in Southern 
prisons. The numbers of dead of the One Hundred and 
Sixteenth of this fight were never ascertained, as the 
enemy held the ground. Thirty-five were missing, and a 
few of them were afterv/ards heard of as dying in Southern 
prisons, but most likely the greater part of them still 
hold the lines where they fell in the forests of William's 
Farm. A Confederate colonel was captured during the 
fight. He was mounted on a superb grey horse which 
General Barlow afterwards purchased and rode in battle. 
The splendid animal became very fond of the General and 
would follow him around the camp begging for the lumps 
of sugar that the General would be pretty sure to have in 
his pocket with which to treat his equine friend. 



246 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

The 22d of June was the saddest day ever experienced 
by the Second Corps. Up to that day the corps had never 
lost a color and but one gun, but on this occasion the 
splendid record was lost and the day's disaster cost the 
Second Corps four guns, one flag and seventeen hundred 
prisoners that were left in the hands of the enemy. On 
the morning of the 23d the Second and Sixth Corps moved 
forward to attack on the same ground fought over the day 
before, but the enemy had retired into their works and the 
fighting on the left of the army was ended for a time. 

After the fight at William's Farm, sometimes called the 
" Petersburg Affair," the regiment enjoyed for a few days 
a well earned rest, if continual digging, intrenching and 
picket duty could be called by that name ; but compared 
with the long night marches and incessant assaults upon 
the strong positions of the enemy that occupied every 
hour of May and June, it was repose and rest of the most 
welcome character. 

Once more the mail was handed around and "news 
from home" cheered the weary men. But in sorting the 
regimental mail that had accumulated for weeks, almost 
half the letters were returned to the writers with the 
endorsement: "Absent," "Wounded," or, still worse, 
" Killed." 

A few days after the battle of William's Farm General 
Hancock returned and resumed command of the corps, 
and on July nth the corps was withdrawn from the 
intrenchments that they had erected and went into camp 
near the " deserted house " on the Norfolk Road. 

THE REGIMENT LEAVES THE IRISH BRIGADE. 

The regiment remained here for two weeks and during 
this time was transferred from the Second (Irish) Brigade 
to the Fourth Brigade. The transfer of regiments and 
consolidation of brigades was rendered necessary at this 
time by the heavy losses of men and officers. In some 



THE REGIMENT LEAVES THE IRISH BRIGADE. 247 

brigades not a field officer remained to take command. 
The Irish Brigade was commanded by a captain. Six of 
the ten field officers who had started with the campaign on 
May 5th had been killed and the other four severely 
wounded. 

The members of the regiment left the Irish Brigade 
with regret. They had participated in all the glories and 
triumphs of that famous brigade for two years, and 
although the One Hundred and Sixteenth was composed 
almost entirely of American born citizens, the men had 
learned to love and esteem the men of the Emerald Isle. 
The brigade to which the regiment was assigned was in 
no way less brave than the one from which it was parting. 
It was the brigade of General John R. Brooke, one of the 
bravest and best of officers, who had commanded the 
brigade wnth great honor to it and to himself. He had 
been wounded on several occasions, and when the regiment 
joined the Fourth Brigade the gallant soldier was absent, 
suffering from a wound received at Cold Harbor. The 
members of the One Hundred and Sixteenth soon felt at 
home, for the men form friendships quickly when under 
fire and sharing each other's dangers. Every regiment in 
the brigade with which the command was for the future 
to be associated were veteran organizations that had been 
tried on every field from the very beginning of the war. 
The regiments composing the brigade were the Fifty-third, 
One Hundred and Forty-fifth and One Hundred and Forty- 
eighth Pennsylvania ; Second Delaware ; Sixty-fourth and 
Sixty-sixth New York, and Seventh New York Heavy 
Artillery, acting as infantry. The arms of the regiment 
were changed at this time. The old pattern smooth bore 
musket, with a ball and three buck shot, calibre 69, was 
withdrawn and the Springfield, calibre 58, with a rifle 
barrel, substituted. It was a welcome change, for, while 
the old weapon with the buck and ball was an excellent 
one at close quarters, the men felt that the new rifle piece 
was far superior, especially on the skirmish line. 



248 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

Towards the end of June and during July the siege of 
Petersburg was pressed along the whole line, from the 
right on the Appomattox River to the left near the Jerusalem 
Plank Road, and the spade and pick were in active use by 
night and day. 

Redoubts and siege batteries rose in rapid succession, 
and nearly all the men became quite expert in forming 
fascines, gabions, sap-fagots and all the paraphernalia 
incidental to siege works. A siege train arrived on the 
ground, and thirty-pounder Parrott guns soon added their 
thunder to the general roar. Ten-inch mortars and several 
batteries of Coehorn mortars were placed at intervals along 
the line and rained vertical fire upon the enemy. To the 
Confederates this sort of dropping fire from heaven, as it 
were, was a surprise. It was so unexpected and astonishing. 
They were not prepared for a fire of this nature, and for 
some days suffered heavily without being able to give 
adequate reply ; but they quickly built strong bomb-proofs 
and in a short time had lots of mortars themselves sending 
showers of iron down into the camps when the Union 
people worried them in like manner. To the men on the 
main line of battle the mortar firing seemed to matter but 
little, as they learned to scuttle into the bomb-proofs and 
thus find security and shelter ; but to the men on the 
picket and reserve the fire of the mortar batteries was a 
serious matter. The mortars were not fired singly but in 
volleys. Half a dozen mortars would be fired at once, and 
six immense shells would fly skyward in a bunch and, 
slowly curving high above the camps, would begin their 
downward course, gaining speed at every foot and, finally, 
with a scream and a rush, drop among the men, bursting 
and scattering death in all directions. As these ponderous 
shells descended in groups, it was impossible to avoid them, 
although after dark one could see the streaming fire from 
the burning fuse as the shells ascended and fell ; but as 
running from one meant simply running into another, it 
was felt that trying to avoid them was useless. Just to 



THE REGIMENT LEAVES THE IRISH BRIGADE. 249 

stand and take the chances was all that could be done. 

The danger from the mortar shells was not confined 
alone to the picket or main line of works, but sometimes 
the shells would reach to the camp of the army reserve, far 
away from the main line, and men were frequently killed 
while sleeping in what they fancied was perfect security. 
As a member of the Irish Brigade remarked, that he 
*' never knew when he went to sleep at night whether he 
would not wake up dead in the morning ". Eleven men 
were killed in a Michigan regiment at one discharge of a 
Confederate mortar battery, and it was said that thirty-one 
men were killed in a Confederate regiment when a shower 
of mortar shells from one of the Union batteries fell among 
them. This mortar business, raining down shells from the 
clouds at all hours of night and day was, perhaps, the most 
annoying feature of the siege. As General Humphreys 
remarked : "It was depressing " ; and that was putting it 
very mildly. It certainly was depressing. 



250 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 



CHAPTER XIIL 

FIRST DEEP BOTTOM ; OR, STRAWBERRY PLAINS. 

^O WARDS the end of July, General Grant determined 
-*- to send a force of infantry and cavalry to the north 
bank of the James River, to make a dash on Richmond 
and destroy the railroads to the north of the city, and also 
for the purpose of drawing away from the defences of 
Petersburg, and to the north bank of the James a portion 
of the Confederate Army. General Sheridan was placed 
in command of the cavalry, and the whole expedition was 
under General Hancock. 

At 4 o'clock on the afternoon of July 26th, the Second 
Corps left camp near the " Deserted House ", marching for 
Point of Rocks. Just after dark, the corps crossed the 
Appomattox River on the pontoon bridge at Point of 
Rocks, and continued the march during the night by way 
of Jones Neck. The night was warm and very dark, but 
by order of General Butler, small fires had been lit at 
intervals along the route which aided much in getting 
along. The James River was reached about 2 A. m. on 
the morning of the 27th, and crossing on the pon- 
toons, the corps was massed in the woods to await day- 
light As soon as it was sufficiently light to see, the 
advance was ordered, Barlow's Division leading. The 
regiment was commanded by Captain Garrett Nowlen, and 
he handled it beautifully. No sooner had the line begun 
moving forward than the skirmishers of the division 
became engaged, and with a rush, they captured the works 
of the enemy, with four twenty-pound Parrott guns and a 
lot of prisoners. 




%/ 



^ =^!^ 



MAJOR-GENERAL FRANCIS C. BARLOW. 



FIRST DEEP BOTTOM ; OR, STRAWBERRY PLAINS. 251 

The Twenty-eighth Massachusetts was one of the 
regiments that fought on the skirmish line, and when the 
four large guns with the caissons were hauled to the rear, 
the men of the One Hundred and Sixteenth seemed almost 
as glad to witness the glory of the regiment with which 
they had been associated so long, as though they had made 
the capture themselves. The regiment met with a heavy 
fire while passing over the plain, but finally reached the 
Confederate works without serious loss. The fire of the 
enemy, was diverted and rendered less destructive by the 
firing of the gun-boats which threw their immense shells 
over the heads of the men and into the works of the 
enemy. These tremendous hundred-pound shells made a 
sound that was awe-inspiring, and when they burst in the 
timber, they tore the giant trees into ribbons. 

During the 27th and 28th, Barlow's Division did heavy 
marching and entrenching, moving far out to the right, 
trying to find the enemy's flank, but without avail. The 
whole movement, so far as making a dash on the Confed- 
erates' Capital, failed ; but the second object for which the 
expedition had been organized — the drawing of a large 
part of the Confederate Army to the north bank of the 
James River in order to leave an opening for a successful 
assault on Petersburg — had been successful. Five-eighths 
of the whole of Lee's army had hastily concentrated in 
front of Hancock. 

As soon as it was dark, on the evening of the 29th, the 
return march to Petersburg was commenced, and the whole 
force got back in time to see the explosion of the mine in 
front of the Ninth Corps, and witness the miserable fiasco 
that cost the Union Army four thousand men. The Second 
Corps returned to the camp near the " Deserted House ", 
and the One Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment enjoyed 
another rest of two weeks. Picket duty, however, was 
always in order, and the loss of men on the outer line was 
frequent. 



252 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

SECOND DEEP BOTTOM. 

Early in August, General Grant deemed it advisable to 
again send a strong force to the north bank of the James 
to threaten Richmond. General Hancock was again 
selected to command the movement, and in order to 
deceive the enemy the troops were ordered to march 
to City Point and embark on steamboats, to give the 
Confederates the impression that the expedition was 
destined for Washington ; then sail up the river by night 
and land at Deep Bottom by daylight, ready for the attack. 

At noon on the 12th of August, the corps marched to 
City Point, and on the following day began embarking on 
the fleet of steamers that had been gathered there. Not 
only was the enemy deceived by the movement, via the 
boats and river, but also the men who composed the force. 
No sooner had they begun marching on board the steamers 
than their spirits rose, and "On to Washington"! was 
the cry. 

As night settled down the surmise deepened into a 
certainty, and laughter and happiness prevailed to an 
extent altogether beyond reason. The men of the One 
Hundred and Sixteenth shared in the good feeling, and 
when, at 10 o'clock at night, the steamboats pulled out 
into the stream and the voyage began , general hilarity and 
wild delight took possession of every one. Songs were 
started in which all joined, and "The Sword Of Bunker 
Hill " was sung with an enthusiasm that was universal. 
It was a lovely night on the water. The stars never 
looked so brigfht, or the river so calm and beautiful. No 
one thought of sleep. There w^as no time to even doze 
while the boys were having such a good time. Were they 
not on their way to the North! With the tolling of the 
midnight hour came a sad ending to the Washington 
dream. The steamer on which the One Hundred and Six- 
teenth was rejoicing and having such a jolly time, slowed 
up, and a tug came alongside with the orders. In five 



SECOND DEEP BOTTOM. 253 

minutes every man knew that it was Deep Bottom and a 
fight in the morning, instead of Washington and a trip to 
the North. The singing quickly died away. The river did 
not seem half so beautiful nor the stars half so bright. 
Quickly everyone lost interest in the passing shores. The 
silence of disappointed hope settled over the men, who at 
once felt tired and sleepy instead of wide-awake and full 
of happy song. The steamer went ploughing through the 
water, and soon all hands were slumbering. It was a cruel 
disappointment, to be sure. 

The sleep of the men was ended in a couple of hours, 
and before daylight the troops disembarked and massed on 
the shore. At 5 o'clock the firing commenced, and the 
sun had risen on the hottest daj^ ever experienced by the 
members of the One Hundred and Sixteenth Reofiment. 
As Colonel Walker, Adjutant-General of the Second Corps, 
remarked : ' ' The rays of the August sun smote the heads 
of the weary soldiers with blows as palpable as if they had 
been given with a club." Hundreds of men of the army 
fell during the awful heat of this day. During this, the 
14th of August, the regiment marched, intrenched and 
counter-marched from sunrise until dark and participated 
in the assault made by General Barlow at 4 o'clock in the 
afternoon near Fussell's Mill, which was unsuccessful, and 
at dark the division was massed at the junction of the 
Darby and Long Bridge Roads. 

The 14th of August will long be remembered by every 
member of the One Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment as 
one of the most intense suffering. Not one of them will 
ever experience a warmer day in this world or, let us hope, 
in the next. Certainly not if they have done .their duty in 
the Union Army and have an honorable discharge. 

The 15th of August passed with the picket fighting 
and intrenching. General Birney, with his Tenth Corps, 
was moving to find the enemy's left, and it was almost 
night before he found a place to attack. A day had been 
lost without anything gained. 



254 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

During- the i6th the Union cavalry, supported by 
Miles' Brigade, advanced up the Charles City Road and 
drove the Confederate cavalry as far as White's Tavern, 
within seven miles of Richmond, but were compelled to 
fall back again. 

General Chambliss, the Confederate cavalry commander, 
was killed during the fight. His body was lying on a 
stretcher on the roadside as the regiment passed. He was 
a handsome man, extremely neat in dress, his mustaches 
nicely waxed and pointed. He looked as trim and neat as 
though just fresh from the barber shop. A small Testament 
found in his pocket testified as to his identity. On the fly 
leaf was his name and the words : "A gift from his mother". 

Towards evening the Fourth Brigade, to which the 
One Hundred and Sixteenth was now attached, was ordered 
to reinforce General Birney at Fussell's Mill, 

During the 17th there was heavy skirmishing along 
the whole line of the Second Corps and the men of the 
regiment suffered severely. From 4 until 6 o'clock on 
the afternoon of this day a truce was declared for the 
purpose of removing the dead and wounded from between 
the lines. The body of General Chambliss, that had been 
buried within the Union lines, was taken up and delivered 
to his friends. 

On the morning of the i8th General Barlow was com- 
pelled to relinquish for a time the command of his division 
by reason of his wounds and disease. He was a man 
absolutely without fear, and was succeeded by General 
Nelson A. Miles, a brilliant and fearless soldier. 

With the exception of picket firing the day was 
uneventful until 5.30 in the afternoon, when the enemy 
came out of their works near Fussell's Mill and attacked 
the line of General Birney's Division. General Miles 
moved forward with the First and Fourth Brigades and 
struck the flank of the attacking column. For half an 
hour the roar of musketry was tremendous, and at the 
same hour a heavy attack was made on the Union cavalry.^ 



SECOND DEEP BOTTOM. 255 

Everything indicated a battle of some magnitude, but 
while the Union cavalry were driven back, the attack on 
the lines at Fussell's Mill failed and the Confederates were 
driven back, leaving the field covered with dead and 
wounded. The One Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment 
participated in the movement on the enemy's flank and 
did noble service in pouring in a most destructive fire. 

During the 19th and aotli nothing but heavy picket 
firing occurred, the regiment furnishing large details for 
the skirmish line ; and on the night of the 20th the whole 
force was withdrawn from Deep Bottom and began the 
return to Petersburg. The march of the regiment was 
another of the many disagreeable incidents of the campaign. 
It was a terrible night. The rain fell in sheets and the 
roads were in a frightful condition in the ink-like darkness. 
The thunder rolled and lightning flashed incessantly. As 
the pickets were being withdrawn, the storm's fury seemed 
to be concentrated on the picket line. The thunder pealed 
through the woods and the lightning flashed among the 
rain-soaked men. Several large trees were struck and torn 
to ribbons, and while the storm was at its height the 
army withdrew. 

Returning by way of Point of Rocks, the regiment 
reached the old camping ground early on the morning of 
the 2ist. The casualties of the regiment during the 
second Deep Bottom campaign are not known to the 
writer and cannot now be ascertained. The men who 
were missing were never heard of again and most likely all 
were killed. 

The casualties of the Second Corps were nine hundred 
and fifteen, more than one-half of which were in the First 
Division, to which the One Hundred and Sixteenth Regi- 
ment was attached. When "arms were stacked" in camp 
once more, it was thought by everyone that after the 
fearful fatigues of the last week a rest of a few days would 
be given to the exhausted troops who had participated in 
the Deep Bottom campaign, but no such good luck was in 



256 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

store for them. Despite the fearful condition of the worn- 
out men, they were allowed to remain just long enough to 
cook their coffee and then ordered to the vicinity of the 
Strong House to slashing and work on the intrenchments. 
It was more than human nature could endure and, although 
the distance was short, many of the men fell on the way 
utterly unable to move, and, worse still, as soon as the weary 
and foot-sore men arrived at the first point of destination, 
they were ordered to continue the march to the Gurley 
House, on the Weldon Railroad, several miles further. 
Slowly dragging their weary limbs along through a steady 
and pouring rain, they finally reached their position late in 
the afternoon. Too weary and tired and without life or 
spirit enough to even light a fire, the men of the One 
Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment sank on the wet ground 
and slept in the softest of Virginia mud. 

The morning of August 2 2d broke grey and wet. The 
men made coffee with water thick with clay from the 
muddy streams, and many of the stragglers who had fallen 
by the way the day before came in and joined their 
companies. 

At noon the First Division was set to work destroying 
the Weldon Railroad. All the afternoon of that day and 
all day of the 23d the work went on. It was not the first 
experience of the regiment in this line of business, and 
when the fatigue of Deep Bottom wore off the men rather 
enjoyed the work. It was certainly better than building 
breast-works with the sharpshooters cracking at the workers, 
and the roaring fires of the railroad ties at intervals along 
the line, on which the rails were bent and roasted, looked 
cheerful and gave the boys a chance to dry their clothes 
after the rain. 

During the afternoon several miles of the railroad were 
effectually destroyed and on the 23d the work was con- 
tinued. On the evening of that day the First Division 
reached as far as Reams Station and the regiment was 
placed in intrenchments there. 



BATTLE OF REAMS STATION. 257 



CHAPTER XIV. 

BATTLE OF REAMS STATION. 

ON the morning of August 24th, the First Division was 
relieved by the Second, and proceeded in the work of 
destroying the railroad beyond the station. The advance 
of the working party was covered by Colonel Spear with 
two regiments of cavalry ; while General Gregg's Division 
of cavalry held all the roads by which the enemy could 
approach from Petersburg or Dinwiddle. During the day, 
Spear had a brush with the enemy's cavalry, but with the 
assistance of some of the infantry of the First Division, 
drove them off. General Barlow was again forced, by 
reason of his wounds, to relinquish command of the First 
Division on this day, never to return, and was succeeded 
by General Nelson A. Miles. It was not without regret 
that the men of the One Hundred and Sixteenth saw Gen- 
eral Barlow take final leave of the division. He was a 
fearless officer, perfectly reckless as regarded his own per- 
son, and in spite of wounds and disease stuck to the work, 
and remained with the command long after a man with 
less force of character would have given up the struggle. 

During the day the working party succeeded in destroy- 
ing the railroad to a point three miles beyond and to the 
south of the station, to a place known as Malone's Cross- 
ing. At dark the division returned to the intrenchments 
at Reams Station, The members of the regiment were 
in good spirits, and, after cooking coffee, sat around the 
camp-fires for awhile, enjoying the usual smoke and chat 
that almost invariably marked the close of a day like this. 



258 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

The night of the morrow and the regiment would be steal- 
ing away in the darkness from the bloody field, leaving 
many members, the dead of August 25th, to hold the 
works forever. 

Orders were issued for the Second Division of the corps 
to move out and resume the destruction of the railroad on 
the morning of the 25th, but at midnight a dispatch from 
the headquarters of the army, notified General Hancock 
that a force of the enemy, estimated at eight to ten thous- 
and, had been seen leaving their works at Petersburg, 
moving south, and cautioning him to look out for them. 
This Confederate force was afterwards learned to be a very 
heavy column of infantry and cavalry (the numbers have 
never been ascertained), under command of General A. P. 
Hill, consisting of nearly all of his own corps, Anderson's 
Brigade of Longstreet's Corps, and two cavalry divisions 
under General Hampton. This force began to develop in 
Hancock's front early in the forenoon of the 25th ; and, 
in consequence, the Second Division, that had started to 
destroy the track, was at once recalled and placed in the 
intrenchments. 

The pickets of the Second Division, who had been on 
duty during the night, were relieved by those of the First 
Division shortly after daylight, and a large detail of the 
One Hundred and Sixteenth went out on that duty. The 
line of works into which the two divisions of the Second 
Corps had retired to await the assaults of the Confederate 
column were slight and faulty in construction. They had 
been constructed in June by some of the cavalry. They 
ran along the railroad for some ten or twelve hundred 
yards, having a return almost at right angles at each end, 
of about the same length, and w^ere thrown up in such a 
way that the troops occupying them would be exposed to 
an enfilading fire. 

The First Division, to which the One Hundred and 
Sixteenth was attached, commanded by General Nelson 
A. Miles, occupied the right half of these intrenchments, 




MAJOR-GENERAL NELSON A MILES. 



BATTLE OF REAMS STATION. 269 

and Gibbons's Second Division the left. The pickets were 
thrown well out into the woods in front, and towards noon 
they felt the approach of the en^my. 

In front of that part of the line there was open ground 
of about one hundred and fifty yards to the timber, and in 
this wood the picket ran in a line parallel with the works. 

At noon the Confederates advanced along the Dinwiddle 
Road and struck the picket of the First Division, driving 
in the picket line and taking possession of these woods, 
the sharpshooters occupying every tree and available spot 
along the front of the Union line. 

At one o'clock an attempt was made to drive the 
Confederates back into these woods and reform the picket 
line, and the regiment went out to support the movement, 
leaving the colors with a guard in the works, but the effort 
was not successful. In this fight, which was at very close 
quarters, the regiment lost some good men but did effective 
work. Sergeant Edward S. Kline behaved nobly and was 
severely wounded. Sergeant T. A. Sloan, while in the act 
of loading his rifle, was ordered by a big fellow to surrender. 
Sloan had just got his load down but the ramrod stuck 
and he could not withdraw it, so he let him have it, ram- 
rod and all. When it came to a question of surrender 
Tim Sloan was ever ready to enter a very earnest protest. 

At about 2 o'clock the Confederate General Wilcox 
made a very determined and spirited attack on that part of 
the Union line held by the First Division, but each time 
was driven back with great loss. A second attack was 
made and was vigorous and close, many of the men falling 
within musket reach of the Union works. Captain Garrett 
Nowlen, then in command of the regiment, stood up in 
front waving his sword and cheering on the men. At that 
moment a ball pierced his heart. For an instant he was 
motionless, then turning quickly to where the men of his 
own company were in line, he looked towards them and 
waved his hand. 



260 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

"Good-bye, boys, good-bye — good-bye." He was fall- 
ing when he repeated the last words, and when he struck 
the ground he was dead. Captain Sam'l Taggart then 
took command of the regiment. A few minutes elapsed 
and Taggart, passing down the line (it is thought for the 
purpose of seeing Nowlen's body), crossed an opening in 
the line. He walked slowly, knowing no fear. As he 
approached the spot that was so exposed to the fire some 
of the men called out: " Hiirry, Captain; they may kill 
you, too." But the brave soul never hastened a step, 
and as he reached the spot where Nowlen fell he was shot 
through the body. . The men ran forward and carried him 
behind the works and laid him beside Nowlen. He was per- 
fectly sensible and tried to speak but could not. He turned 
his head a little and smiling on the men who had gathered 
around him and who loved him tenderly, he awaited death, 
calm, serene and fearless, as became the gallant martyr 
that he was. He lived fifteen minutes after he was struck, 
the smile never leaving his face for a moment, and his pure 
spirit ascended to heaven, bright with the light of battle 
and radiant with the light of a stainless life. 

As the hours passed in the afternoon the position of 
Hancock's forces became extremely critical, the enemy 
concentrating for a tremendous onslaught and no forces to 
which Hancock could look for assistance within supporting 
distance. At 5 o'clock the enemy inaugurated the final 
attack by a very heavy artillery fire that demoralized to a 
great extent many of the recruits and substitutes who had 
recently joined the Second Corps. The shelling continued 
for about fifteen miniites, and then the whole Confederate 
force, led by Heth's Division, assaulted the Union line. 
The principal attack was made on Miles's First Division 
and on that part of the line held by the Fourth Brigade. 

The men of the One Hundred and Sixteenth stood 
shoulder to shoulder, pouring in their fire on the advancing 
hosts, and had the other troops of the corps made as noble 
a fiofht as the Fourth Brigade, Reams Station would have 



BATTLE OF REAMS STATION. 261 

been a great Union victory. But it was not to be. 

While the brigade was hurling death into those in the 
front, two New York regiments on the right gave way and 
went to the rear. The victorious enemy poured through 
the opening, capturing flags, guns and prisoners. Hancock 
and Miles were everywhere, cheering, rallying and urging 
the men, but the break was too great to repair and the 
line was forced back. Fighting on and contesting the 
ground inch by inch the regiment fell back, but not until 
the works on the right were in the hands of the enemy 
and they were receiving on the left an enfilading fire 
of the most destructive character. The line gradually 
fell back across the space enclosed by our works until the 
men of the regiment found themselves fighting among the 
troops of the Second Division, who, in turn, were forced 
out of their works and were obliged to occupy and fight 
from the reverse side of their own intrenchments. 

To go into further details of the Battle of Reams 
Station is not necessary in a regimental history. Suffice 
to say that the fight continued until dark and then both 
sides in the strug^gle withdrev.^ from the field. The loss of 
the regiment was never actually known. After the com- 
mand returned to Petersburg and the members compared 
notes, the names of seventeen men killed and ten wounded 
were all that could be accounted for, but there were thirty- 
one missing. Only four or five were ever heard of again 
and they were heard of as dying in southern prisons. The 
others were undoubtedly killed. 

Captain Francis E- Crawford and Lieutenant Zadock 
Springer were taken prisoners. Notwithstanding the 
crushing defeat sustained by the two divisions of the 
Second Corps and the terrible loss in the ranks of the One 
Hundred and Sixteenth, the regiment never broke once 
during the afternoon and the men never abandoned the 
bodies of the two dead captains whom all had loved so 
dearly ; and when darkness fell and the retreat began the 
bodies were placed on stretchers and carried mile after 



262 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

mile through the gloomy forest back to the camp at 
Petersburg, then embalmed and sent home. 

It is difficult to understand the reason for the battle 
and disaster of Reams Station. It was known to the 
commander of the army the night before that a large force 
had left Petersburg for the purpose of attacking either 
Hancock or Warren's Fifth Corps, which was five miles on 
his right and between Reams Station and Petersburg. 
At 9 o'clock on the evening of the 24th General Warren 
telegraphed to General Meade that he felt certain that the 
force of Confederates had gone out to interfere with 
General Hancock and added : " They cannot do anything 
with me here." It would seem that it should have been 
determined then to either reinforce Hancock that he might 
fight to win a victory and beat back the column sent 
against him and then continue the destruction of the 
railroad, or, if that was not considered of sufficient 
importance to make a fight for, then to have called him 
back and abandon the work without risking a battle. But 
no doubt General Meade thought that General Hancock 
and the two divisions of the Second Corps were fully able 
to hold the ground and render a good account, and so they 
would had it been the same Second Corps that charged 
Marye's Heights at Fredericksburg or held the Brock Road 
in the Wilderness. Death had been busy in the ranks and 
but few men of the early part of the year's campaign were 
left. All the brigade and regimental commanders had 
fallen in the first three months of the campaign. All had 
been replaced, not once nor twice, but several times. At 
least thirty brigade commanders had fallen during the 
three and one-half months ending at Reams Station ; and at 
the latter end of October thirty-seven brigade commanders 
had been killed and wounded, an average of three to each 
of the brigades in the Second Corps in this one summer 
campaign of less than six months. The men, too, had 
gone down in brigades and regiments, and the veterans of 
the Peninsula and Antietam had been largely replaced by 



BATTLE OF REAMS STATION. 263 

recruits and substitutes who had but little heart in the 
work. 

The number of Confederates engaged in the battle has 
never been ascertained. The force that Hancock fought 
with consisted of 8,000 infantry and cavalry, of which he 
lost 2,400 killed, wounded, and prisoners. The loss of 
officers in the Union ranks was out of all proportion. The 
Confederate sharpshooters picked them off, as in the case 
of Nowlen and Taggart. Captain E. P. Brownson, of 
Hancock's staff, was among the killed. He was a brave 
and handsome young officer, and fell while leading forward 
some troops to the attack. Colonel Francis A. Walker, 
also of the staff, in his daring got into the enemy's line 
and was captured. 

Just before the fight commenced General Hancock 
placed Tom Scarlett, of Company A, on the Spires House 
as a safe-guard. Tom climbed to the top of the carriage 
house to watch the fight, but the bullets came so lively 
around the spot that he thought it judicious to get down 
and forego sightseeing. But he found it not less dangerous 
on the orround. A neg-ro and dog were wounded in the 
garden. The family retired to the cellar and left Scarlett 
in sole possession. So well did he do his duty that 
Mrs. Spires not onl}' kept him safely concealed during the 
next day when Hampton's Confederate cavalry surrounded 
the house, but after dark crammed his haversack with all 
the good things she could raise, and then personally con- 
ducted him through the lines and put him on the road 
back to his own camp. Sergeant James Cavanaugh, of 
Company B, distinguished himself greatly by defending 
one of the guns of Battery B, First Rhode Island Artillery. 
When the enemy rushed over the works Cavanaugh lost 
his musket in the struggle, but seizing a spade he fought 
like a tiger until knocked down, overpowered and taken 
prisoner. 

A letter from General Heth, who commanded the last 
charge on the Union works, is of interest : 



264 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

Washington, May i3tli, 1895. 

General St. Clair Mulholland, 
Philadelphia, Pa. 

Dear General : Yours of May ist was duly received. 
I am afraid I cannot give you the information you most 
desire in reference to the Reams Station fight, August 
25th, 1864. 

I have, assisted by Mr. Kirkly, one of the board com- 
piling the official records of the. Union and Confederate 
Armies, examined the records, hoping to find some data 
which would give us the information as to the strength of 
the brigades that carried your works on August 25th, 1864. 
I am sorry to say that there is absolutely nothing that 
throws any light upon this subject. 

On the 25th of August, 1864, General A. P. Hill, with 
Wilcox's Division, or a part of it, and two brigades of my 
division, took up the march to Reams Station, where 
General Hancock with his corps, or a part of it, was 
engaged in destroying the Weldon Railroad. 

Wilcox's Division was in the advance, and on reaching 
Reams Station was ordered to attack the works held by 
Hancock's troops. He attacked and was repulsed. My 
two brigades, commanded by Generals Cooke and McRae, 
North Carolina troops, arrived, and I was ordered by 
General Hill to carry the works. Lane's North Carolina 
Brigade, of Wilcox's Division, was assigned to my com- 
mand to assist in the attack. The works I was to attack 
ran parallel with the railroad in front of quite a deep cut. 
A heavy body of woods was in front of the works I was to 
attack, with an open field between the woods and the 
works. Probably the distance across this open field was 
two hundred yards, more or less. I formed my command 
for the attack in these woods, as near to the open field as 
possible without being exposed to view and parallel to 
your works, Cooke or McRae on the right and Lane on 
the extreme left. I placed two or more batteries under 
Colonel Pegrani, commanding, in a good position still 




CAPTAIN AND BREVET MAJOR GARRETT NOWLEN. 
Killed at Reams Station, August 25th, 1864. 



REAMS STATION. 265 

further to the right, having an oblique fire on your line of 
works and your artillery in rear of the works. Adjusting 
our watches so that they indicated the same time, Pegram 
was ordered to open all of his guns and fire as rapidly as 
possible at the works and at your artillery. At the end of 
thirty minutes he was to cease firing, when the infantry 
would, charge the works. Pegram's fire was wonderfully 
accurate and effective. Some of your guns were dis- 
mounted, caissons blown up and many horses killed. His 
fire had a demoralizing effect temporarily upon the troops 
behind the works, and before they had time to recover their 
normal status my infantry was in possession of the works. 
My loss in crossing the field was very small. The left 
brigade met with abattis in front of the works it was to 
carry and sustained greater loss. The number of prisoners, 
guns, etc. , captured by my command in this fight will be 
found in the Official Records, Vol. 42, Part i, page 851. 

General Lee says in a dispatch, dated August 26th, 1864, 
to Hon. Jas. A. Seddon, Secretary of War : " Cooke's and 
McRae's North Carolina Brigades, under General Heth, 
and Lane's Brigade, under General Conner, with Pegram's 
artillery, composed the assaulting column. Seven stands 
of colors, 2,000 prisoners and nine pieces of artillery are 
in our possession. The loss of the enemy in killed and 
wounded is reported to be heavy, ours relatively small." 

Thirty years have elapsed since this fight. All my 
papers and retained returns were destroyed at Appomattox, 
April 9th, 1865, so any estimate of the attacking force 
under my command when }-our works were carried August 
25th, 1864, would be merely guesswork. I should say 
that the attacking force was between 4,000 and 4,500 
strong. Very truly yours, H. Heth. 

REAMS STATION. 

Captain and Brevet Major-General Garrett Nowlen, 
who fell in the battle and died so heroically, was born in 
Philadelphia, on March 6th, 1835. He entered the army 



266 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

as second lieutenant of Company G, August 2d, 1862, and 
was promoted to first lieutenant and adjutant, March ist, 
1863 ; to captain of Company D, November 21st, 1863 ; to 
brevet major, August 25tli, 1864. He was severely wounded 
at Fredericksburg, December i3tli, 1862, the ball shattering 
his hip bone. He was a man delicate by nature, thought- 
ful and studious, of liberal education and a graduate of the 
Philadelphia High School ; most generous, unselfish and 
self-sacrificing. Simple and gentle as a boy, with a high 
sense of honor and truth that directed every action of his 
life. His body was embalmed and brought to Philadelphia 
and buried at Laurel Hill, on the banks of the beautiful 
Schuylkill where he had often played in childhood's happy 
days. He is interred among the friends of his youth who 
loved him in life, and he sleeps in good and honorable 
company. By his side lies General Meade, the Commander 
of the Army of the Potomac ; General Mercer, who fell at 
Princetown ; General Hector Tyndale, who died of wounds 
received at Antietam ; Colonel Sargent, who fell at Peters- 
burg, and young Colonel Dalgren, who went down in front 
of Richmond, and many another patriot and hero. Some 
loving friend has marked on his tomb the words : ' ' Oh, 
brave heart!" Truly a loyal and noble heart was stilled 
when Garret Nowlen fell. 

A letter written by Lieutenant Frank IMcGuigan, a few 
days after the battle, tells in graphic language how Captain 
Nowlen fell : 

Headquarters ii6th Regiment, Pennsylvania 

Volunteers. 

In the field near Petersburg, Va. 

September 9th, 1864. 
Major Charles W. Matthews, Philadelphia, Pa. 

Dear Sir : Yours of the 4th instant has been received. 
It was my intention to write to the relatives of the late 
Captain Garrett Nowlen and give them a history of the 



REAMS STATION. 267 

sad event, but owing to circumstances over which I had no 
control I was unable to do so. 

Captain Nowlen was killed at the battle of Reams 
Station, on the afternoon of August 25th. Our regiment 
had been on picket duty for several days previous to the 
fight. On the evening of the 24th our brigade was with- 
drawn from the left of the line and fell back about two 
miles to the breastworks at Reams Station, on the Weldon 
Railroad. Nothiug unusiial occurred during the night. 
The next morning we received orders to strengthen the 
works. The men had scarcely begun to work before 
orders came to march the brigade to the left into a large 
cornfield. We did not remain in the latter position long, 
but advanced into the main line of works where we 
remained about half an hour and were again ordered to 
move. This time only our regiment was ordered to move. 
We then deployed our line as skirmishers and at once 
advanced on the enemy. 

The regiment had gone but a short distance when the 
enemy opened with a heavy fire of musketry which made 
our line give ground for a moment, but they soon rallied 
and returned the compliment. At this moment the support, 
composed mainly of dismounted cavalry, broke, which 
compelled our line to fall back. At this time Captain 
Nowlen gave us another proof of his bravery and coolness 
in time of danger. He succeeded in bringing his regiment 
out with comparatively small loss and gained the shelter 
of the works without personal injury. But a few moments 
only elapsed before the enemy advanced in great numbers 
and charged our line. They were driven back with terrible 
loss of life during this charge. Captain Nowlen was at 
his post cheering his command and exposing himself to 
great danger. After the latter charge an interval of about 
half an hour occurred, nothing of any consequence going 
on except now and then a shell from our batteries would 
fall amone the Rebs and make them stir. 



268 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

About 3 P. M. the enemy began to show signs of moving, 
and not many minutes elapsed before they began to advance 
in our front from the woods in great numbers with the 
evident intention of charging our works again. We were not 
kept long in suspense as they at once advanced three "lines of 
battle deep." Our men (but two small divisions) remained 
firm and held their fire until the word was given, when 
they opened on the enemy volley after volley of musketry. 
But still the enemy advanced, the fire of our men stagger- 
ing them somewhat, but not breaking their lines. At this 
moment Captain Nowlen sprang up from behind the works 
and, waving his sword, cheered the men. It seemed but 
an instant he stood and the next he fell, shot through the 
heart by a minie ball, the brave soldier and courteous 
gentleman who had won the confidence and esteem of 
every officer and man in his command. His loss is deeply 
felt by every member of the regiment, more especially by 
the old officers of the regiment who have been his com- 
panions in arms for more than two years. 

With the assistance of three of the men I had his body 
carried off" the field and conveyed to the rear. Next 
morning, with the help of the quartermaster of our 
regiment, I had the body removed to City Point, where it 
was embalmed and from thence sent home to his relatives. 
All the effects that were on his person at the time of his 
death will be sent to you in his valise at the earliest 
opportunity. 

Enclosed you will find the blank you sent to be filled 
as the questions required. I did as you requested, but 
thinking a detailed account would be more satisfactory, I 
have taken the liberty to write the above. 

Yours respectfully, 

Francis A. McGuigan. 



reams station. 269 

Captain and Brevet Major Samuel Taggart. 

It is difficult to find words in which to describe the 
high and lofty character of Samuel Taggart. It is rare, 
indeed, that we meet in life with a human being so replete 
in every good attribute that adorns a life or forms a perfect 
man. As a soldier he was " sans peur et sans reproche". 

He was born in Pittsburg, Pa., on the loth of May, 1841. 
He received his early education in the Second and Sixth 
Ward schools of his native city and was among the first 
to enter the High School on the opening of that institution 
in 1855. He graduated therefrom in February, i860, and 
entered the Western University for the purpose of pre- 
paring for college. After continuing at the University for 
six months he taught a public school near Woodville, 
Allegheny County, Pa., the term commencing in Sep- 
tember, i860, and ending the following March. In the fall 
of 1861 he entered Westminster College, New Wilmington, 
Lawrence County, Pa., from which he was graduated in 
June, 1862. He entered the United Presbyterian Theo- 
logical Seminary, Allegheny, Pa., in the spring of 1863, 
and continued there for one year. 

Under the first call of Abraham Lincoln for troops he 
felt a strong desire to enter the service, and joined a com- 
pany organized at that time, but there being no scarcity of 
recruits, he yielded to the persuasion of friends and applied 
himself to preparing for the ministry, having early resolved 
to make that profession his calling in life. 

After graduating at Westminster he enlisted in Com- 
pany H, One Hundred and Twenty-third Regiment, 
Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was appointed first sergeant 
of his company. He participated with the regiment in 
the battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellors- 
ville, and was mustered out in May, 1863, the regiment 
having been organized under the call for nine months 
men. Shortly after this he entered the Theological 
Seminarv. While a student at the seminary in the winter 



270 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

of 1863, he laid aside his books and organized a company 
of infantry which was assigned as Company I, of the One 
Hnndred and Sixteenth, Pennsylvania Volunteers. Of his 
services in that regiment his surviving comrades need not 
be reminded. He was a young man of spotless character, 
brave heart, brilliant mind, and genial temperament. 

The following fitting tribute to his worth is from the 
pen of an intimate friend and classmate at High School 
and College : 

" He was my intimate and beloved friend for years, and 
his death has been to me a life-long regret. I never can 
restrain my tears when I think it. The pure-minded boy, 
the faithful friend, the gifted student, the manly man, 
the devoted christian, the patriotic soldier. No costlier 
sacrifice was ever laid on the altar of the country, than 
when that precious life went out on the battlefield of 
Virginia. The church was looking forward to his useful 
services as a minister. Teachers and classmates at the 
school and college expected and predicted great things for 
him. His talents and temperament would have given him 
an honorable place anywhere, but he cheerfully gave all. 
Youth, strength, education, prospects, he gave all to the 
cause of his country. It is only when we think of him 
and thousands who, like him, counted not their own lives 
dear to them, that we can realize what the preservation of 
the Union cost. It would take not a hasty sketch, but a 
volume to do justice to his memory". 

The writer, who has seen Major Taggart on the battle- 
field and in camp, and who loved him as a brother, joins 
in every word of praise offered in his saintly memory. 
A soldier of the most exalted type, and a man whose daily 
life was a sermon on Christianity. He met death with the 
most serene composure, and a smile that betokened the 
eternal bliss that awaited his pure and noble soul. He is 
buried in Allegheny Cemetery near Pittsburg, and the 
ground where he rests is a sacred spot. 




-CAPTAIN AND BREVET MAJOR SAMUEL TAGGART. 
Killed at Reams Station, August 25th, 1864. 



REAMS STATION. 271 

" How glorious fall the valiant, sword in hand, 
In front of battle for their native land." 

A few day.s after the battle General Gibbons, command- 
ing the Second Division of the Second Corps, issued an 
order depriving several regiments of their colors on the 
ground that their conduct at Reams Station had rendered 
them unworthy to carry them. The order was approved 
by General Meade, but General Hancock felt that the 
action taken was unjustly severe and entered his protest 
against it in a strong letter to General Grant. In this 
communication the commander of the Second Corps tells 
in plain language the eloquent story of that organization : 

Headquarters Second Corps, 

September 28th, 1864. 
Lieutenant-General U. S. Grant, 

Commanding Armies of the United States. 

General : I have the honor to solicit your attention to 
the enclosed copy of an order published by Major-General 
Gibbons, of the 30th ult. , with my endorsements thereon ; 
and to the printed order of the Major-General commanding 
the Army of the Potomac, confirming and approving 
General Gibbons's order. 

It will be seen that General Gibbons deprived three (3) 
regiments of his division of the privilege of bearing colors, 
they having lost their colors at the battle of Reams Station, 
August 25th, that I approved of the principle but requested 
that if it was adopted the rule might be made general 
and affect other corps as well as my own, and, finally, that 
General Meade overruled my suggestion and singled out 
these regiments, the Eighth New York Heavy Artillery, 
One Hundred and Sixty-fourth New York Volunteers and 
Thirty-sixth Wisconsin Volunteers, to be published to the 
army as having rendered themselves unworthy to carry 
colors. This without regard to the fact that in the same 
action other divisions of my command lost colors and that 



272 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

but a few days before several regiments of another corps 
had met with the same misfortune. Under the circum- 
stances I respectfully submit that these regiments have 
been proceeded against with unnecessary severity and a 
slur cast upon the corps which I have the honor to com- 
mand, which, in view of the past, might well have been 
omitted. It is, perhaps, known to you that this corps has 
never lost a color or a gun previous to this campaign, 
though oftener and more desperately engaged than any 
other corps in the army or, perhaps, in any other in the 
country. I have not the means of knowing exactly the 
number of guns and colors captured, but I myself saw 
nine in the hands of one division at Antietam and the 
official reports show that thirty-four fell into the hands of 
the corps at Gettysburg. Before the opening of this cam- 
paign it had captured at least over half a hundred colors 
from the enemy and never yielded one, though at a cost of 
over twenty-five thousand (25,000) casiialties. During 
this campaign you can judge how well the corps has 
performed its part. It has captured more guns and colors 
than all the rest of the army combined. Its reverses have 
not been many and they began only when the corps had 
dwindled to a remnant of its former strength ; after it had 
lost twenty-five brigade commanders and over one hundred 
and twenty-five regimental commanders and over twenty 
thousand men. 

I submit that with the record of this corps it is in the 
highest degree unjust, by a retrospective order, to publish 
a part of it as unworthy to bear colors. It is not necessary, 
perhaps, to speak more particularly as to the injustice done 
these regiments, the principle discussed covering their 
case. I may say, however, that these regiments first 
appeared at th^ battle of Spottsylvania. At Cold Harbor 
the colonel of the Thirty-sixth Wisconsin — as gallant a 
soldier as ever lived — fell dead on the field, as did the 
colonel of the Eighth New York Heavy Artillery. The 
colonel of the One Hundred and Sixty-fourth fell mortally 



REAMS STATION. 273 

wounded beside his flag on the breastwork of the enemy. 
These regiments have since that action suffered severely, 
one of them, at least, having lost two commanding officers. 

I respectfully request that these colors may be returned 
to them. They are entitled to the same privileges as other 
regiments — that is, the right to strive to avoid the penalties 
of General Order No. 37, current series, headquarters Army 
of the Potomac. 

I am, General, your most obedient servant, 

W. S. Hancock. 

Major-General Commanding Second Corps. 

In compliance with this request the colors of the 
reofiments named were afterwards restored to them. 

Headquarters of the Army of the Potomac. 

November 7th. 

The Eighth New York Heavy Artillery, One Hundred 
and Sixty-fourth New York Volunteers and the Thirty- 
sixth Wisconsin Volunteers, having been reported to the 
major-general commanding as having behaved with dis- 
tinguished bravery during the engagement of October 27th, 
1864, on Hatcher's Run, he takes pleasure in restoring to 
these gallant regiments the right to carry the colors of 
which they were deprived by his General Order No. 37, of 
September 23d, 1864. 

By command of Major-General Meade. 

S. Williams, 

A. A. GeneraL 



274 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 



CHAPTER XV. 

PETERSBURG. 

A FTER the battle of Reams Station the regiment re- 
^-^ mained on the reserve for two or three weeks, moving 
from one point to another in rear of the line, but furnishing 
full details for picket and being constantly exposed to the fire 
of the enemy's batteries, if not under that of the infantry. 
In September the command moved into the front line 
and then remained in the trenches for two months, a 
continuous battle night and day. A letter of General 
Hancock to the commander of the army tells in pathetic 
words the story of this time : 

Headquarters Second Corps'. 

November loth, 1864. 
Brigadier-General S. Williams. 

Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of the Potomac. 

General : I have the honor to invite the attention of 
the major-general commanding to the following remarks : 

General Mott's division, of my corps, took up the 
intrenched line near Petersburg from near the Norfolk 
Railroad to the left on the 20th of August. On the 24th 
of September the other two divisions relieved the Tenth 
Army Corps, holding the line from the Norfolk Railroad 
to the river. My corps has held the centre line from 
Battery No. 24 to Redoubt Converse since that time, Mott's 
division having been withdrawn on one occasion for a few 
days, Mott and Gibbons for a few days during the operations 
of October 26th, 27th and 28th, and Miles's division for 
,two days after the return of Mott's and Gibbons's divisions. 



PETERSBURG. 275 

With these exceptions when the troops were withdrawn 
to participate in movements against the enemy, my com- 
mand has been nnder fire in front of Petersburg for two 
months and a half, holding the only part of the lines of the 
army in close proximity to the enemy. They have been 
subjected night and day to the fire of artillery, and have 
frequently been engaged in considerable picket skirmishes. 

I have about two thousand men on picket daily, and 
1600 of these are in action, it may be said, day and night. 

The troops in the enclosed works and rifle-pits are 
subjected to a constant fire from the enemy's mortars, and 
are obliged to live in underground holes and bomb-proofs, 
and are called upon almost nightly to get under arms and 
to be in readiness to resist an attack. They cannot even 
walk about in safety in their own camp on account of the 
danger of stray bullets, mortar shells or the fire of sharp- 
shooters. They have no opportunity for drill or instruction. 

My command is composed largely of new men. 

From the left of my corps to the left of the army, I 
believe there is hardly a place where the enemy are in 
sight. The troops are not harassed by being called up in 
the night, or by constant skirmishing during the day, and 
their camps are not disturbed by the enemy's artillery. 
They are comfortably camped by regiments and brigades, 
with abundant opportunity for exercise, drill and instruc- 
tion. 

I submit that my command has been a long time with- 
out rest and in a state of constant and wearing strain, and 
has been very disadvantageously situated in every respect, 
compared with the other corps. 

I do not speak of it complainingly, and do not know 
that there is any remedy for it, but consider it a proper 
matter to lay before the Major-General commanding the 
army. I am General, 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
WiNFiELD S. Hancock, 

Major-General of Volunteers. 



276 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

During the whole time of the siege there were continual 
fights betwen the pickets. Frequently whole brigades and 
divisions would be drawn into these affairs which would 
result in serious loss. After dark the attacks and counter- 
attacks were of nightly occurrence, and sometimes the firing 
of a single picket would quickly develop into an engage- 
ment extending for a mile along the line. The lines were 
very close at places, and the intervening space between 
them would be frequently swept by fire from dark to sun- 
rise. Even when peace would reign for a short time, and 
not a sound be heard in front, half the picket would be 
standing at a " ready", and at the slightest sound would 
begin firing, and then blaze away for hours lest some force 
mio-ht be moving- to the attack. The more intense the 
darkness the heavier the fire, and brigades would fire 
twenty or thirty thousand rounds of ammunition during 
a single night. Morning and daylight would reveal the 
same open spot just as it was the evening before, without 
a single indication that anyone had been moving over it 
during the darkness. A load of powder and ball had been 
expended and nobody hurt ; no, not even kept awake or 
disturbed in their slumbers by the noise, for everyone 
became accustomed to the row and would dream in perfect 
peace, if not in security, even when siege guns, mortars, 
musketry and all were blazing away for miles along the 
line. 

But danger was ever present on the picket line at 
Petersburg. Many a night, from sundown to sunup the 
next morning, the dead were almost as numerous as on 
some of the celebrated battlefields of the world's history. 
as many as fwenty bodies have been carried in from the 
front before daybreak in the Fourth Brigade alone. The 
line of newly made graves would be extended and reach 
a little further, that was all. Before dinner time the inci- 
dent would be forgotten and life go on as usual. 



ON THE PICKET RESERVE. 277 



ON THE PICKET RESERVE. 



The lines were so close at many points that the men 
could have reached over and touched the muzzle of each 
other's muskets, and the line of earth-works occupied by 
each line was almost as heavy as the usual field works 
that sheltered a line of battle. 

Thousands of ever wakeful eyes were watching and 
thousands of ears were constantly listening. Thousands 
of rifles were continually pointed through chinks in the 
log revetment, and the vigilant sharpshooter, finger on 
trigger, was ever ready to draw a bead on any moving 
object, not only on the picket line, but, by using the tele- 
scope affixed to the barrel, on moving figures a mile in the 
rear. To expose a head on the picket line meant instant 
death, and many points far in rear of the main line of 
battle were so acutely covered by the sharpshooters that it 
was almost impossible to pass without being hit. These 
dangerous places soon became known to everyone, and 
when it became necessary to cross, one had to dash past on 
a run. But ho matter how great the speed, half a dozen 
bullets would sing around and urge still more rapid flight. 
The relief went out in the dark, as changing in the sun- 
light was out of the question. The relief that went on 
before dawn in the morning had to remain on the line 
until after dark in the evening, but the firing was princi- 
pally at night and was then continuous. 

It is questionable if there was a single hour fiom the 
first shot fired at the siege of Petersburg until the Confed- 
erates evacuated the works ten months afterwards, that 
there was not firing on some part of the line. It might be 
on the immediate front, or on the right or left, or maybe 
miles distant, but night or day, listen when one would, 
the firing could be heard. 

The reserve of the picket was sometimes quite a com- 
fortable place, and although out in front was less exposed 



278 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

to danger than the main line of works. Generally in a 
hollow of the ground or otherwise sheltered, the men 
could be quiet, and pass the day well enough, but it 
was necessary to keep very still, and in daylight all 
communication with the line in the rear and the picket in 
front was impossible. The hours seemed long, but some- 
times the shelter afforded a chance to rise from a reclining 
posture sufficiently to allow a game of cards. Where that 
was not possible the men hugged the ground and chatted, 
bantered jokes and took a whiff of the pipe, provided the 
enemy would not see the smoke. Stories were told and 
every incident was seized upon for pastime. While the 
nervous tension of being constantly exposed to danger was 
very great, yet as the months passed away everyone 
became in a measure reconciled to the situation and found 
pleasure in the most trivial things of life. 

A group of soldiers on the reserve lying on their 
stomachs, chin resting on the hands and elbows on the 
ground, found entertainment in watching a tumble-bug 
rolling before him a ball of earth three times as large as 
himself, and admired the perseverance of the little insect 
in doing his work all over again every time the men would 
set the ball back a foot. A stunning hour's amusement 
was furnished by a battle royal between two colonies of 
ants who advanced in lines and fought just as the men 
were fighting here, the only difference being in the size of 
the combatants and the arms used. The ants tore each 
other's limbs off and left lots of dead in the field, just as 
men do, and as someone remarked : " No doubt they are 
fighting for some principle just as we are." "With this 
difference," said another, "that a storm may come up in 
an hour and a flood will wa.sh away the sand bank. The 
ants, their principles and quarrels will all be swept away 
together and that will be the end, while the principle for 
which we are fighting will remain forever, even if we to a 
man are swept away in the storm of battle." "Well, it is 
only a question of time," put in a third. " The day will 




LIEUTENANT GEORGE HALPIX. 
Died at close of War of disease contracted in Prison. 



ON THE PICKET RESERVE. 279 

come when all men, their ideas and principles will have 
passed away as completely as these ants." "That all may 
be," said another, "but men do not end with this life and 
maybe what we do here will have an influence on the 
hereafter. Who knows?" 

"Well," said Lieutenant Halpin, " I will tell you what 
I know. I know that there is a hereafter for I once saw 
the ghost of a soldier, " 

"Oh, I say, that is something worth listening to," 
cried one of the men. " Tell us about the ghost." 

" Be quiet, then, and I will relate an incident that 
occurred to me in India." 

HALPIN TELLS A GHOST STORY. 

" I had the military fever ever since I was able to stand, 
and when I was a bit of a chap in Ireland I remember 
sideling up to every red-coat I met in the street to look at 
the little cap on the top of his head and make mental 
calculations as to how long it would be until I was big 
enough to enlist. Time passed, however, and one day I 
found myself quite tall enough to don the red cap, so I 
took Her Majesty's shilling and for a week stalked aroimd 
the country with a bunch of ribbons flying from over my 
left ear, mighty proud of all my new fixings and, bidding 
all my friends good-bye. I was soon off" for the Bast Indies, 
for the regiment in which I enlisted was under orders for 
that sweet clime when I took the shilling. I need not tell 
you of my two years' experience up to the time I saw the 
ghost, but will come right to the point and place at once. 
I just arrived in India as the murmuring of the great 
mutiny of '57 was being heard, and soon the storm broke 
in all its fury. It offered a splendid opportunity for death 
or promotion. The fighting, to be sure, was not so vigor- 
ous as we have it here, but the men who were not hit by 
the Sepoys were pretty sure to catch the cholera, so the 
chances were about even. Lots of fellows went down 
in the regiment to which I was attached and half the 



280 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

non-commissioned officers and men were laid away in the 
gullies and jungles as we marched from one place to 
another under the hottest sun that a man ever endured. 
Promotion was rapid in consequence, and I wore sergeant's 
stripes before the mutiny was well under way. Now, the 
ghost I am going to tell you about was not of our people, 
but a native, and maybe one of the fellows that we shot 
away from the cannon, only he was not in two pieces as a 
ghost of that kind would naturally be. It happened at 
the siege of the ancient city of Delhi, The Sepoys got 
possession of that place early in the trouble, and we had a 
mighty big time getting it back. The whole country for 
miles around the city is covered with palaces, mosques and 
splendid ruins of the tombs of emperors and princes of the 
Mogul dynasty, and near the Cashmere gate the bungalows 
of the English residents cover the hills. I was sergeant 
of a picket reserve, and instead of lying out on the ground 
as we do here, the reserve occupied the second story of a 
large stone building near the English settlement. It was 
a quiet moonlight night and red hot. My relief had come 
in and, piling up their arms in a corner, they dropped on 
the floor and in half an hour every man was fast asleep. I 
did not feel like sleeping and, lighting my pipe, I sat my- 
self on a large table in the centre of the floor in the 
immense room to enjoy a smoke. While sitting there I 
heard a step ringing on the stairway and it became more 
distinct every moment as it neared the top. I naturally 
looked towards the opened door and was astonished to see 
a Hindoo walking in. He was turbaned and draped in 
white, with the saddest, queerest eyes I ever saw. As he 
entered the room I jumped from the table and called to 
him, demanding his business. He looked straight at me 
with those infernal queer eyes and walked right into the 
room, moving as though he would walk around the table 
and avoid stepping on the sleeping men. When he had 
almost completed the circuit of the room and was abreast 
with me I yelled at him to halt, but he still kept staring 



ON THE PICKET RESERVE. 281 

at me with those coal black eyes and moving right on. I 
made up my mind that he would not leave the room until 
I knew what his business was, and grasping my sword — 
the sergeants at that time carried a short, thick weapon, 
like the old Romans used to do — I ran to the door, and as 
he approached I ordered him to halt or I would run him 
through. The sinner never took his terrible eyes off 
me nor stopped for a moment, and when he came close 
I could stand it no longer but involuntarily stepped aside 
to let him pass, and as he did so I once more screamed at 
him to halt. He did not obey, so I ran my sword right 
through him, but there seemed to be nothing there and 
the phantom Hindoo was going down the steps with a 
stately, even tread. I then called down to the sentinel at 
the door to stop that man, but the sentinel saw no one 
pass either going in or coming out. Gentlemen, that is 
my ghost story. It ain't much, to be sure, but it is true." 

" Very good, Halpin, but what was in the canteen that 
night before you saw the spectral form?" 

" Not a blessed thing but water, and the water from 
the Jumna is not fit to drink, either." 

"Now", put in Lieutenant Brady, " let me tell you a 
story of a real Christian ghost, and a soldier at that. You 
all remember that on Saturday evening. May 2d, at Chan- 
cellorsville, the fight was pretty hot for a while, and a 
good many of our people dropped in the woods on the 
right of our line ? Well, it is of one of them that I will tell 
you. There was an old lady living at that time in the 
little village of Hockendaque, on the Lehigh River, who 
had a son in the Eleventh Corps. On Sunday morning, 
May 3d, the old lady crossed the river to Catasaqua, a vil- 
lage jUvSt opposite to where she lived, and called upon the 
pastor of a church, with whom she was acquainted. She 
told him that her son was home and walking around the 
streets, but he would not speak to her. 'Last evening 
(Saturday)', said she, ' I was washing out some things, the 
•door was open, and who should walk in but my son John. 



282 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

I did not expect liim, and I was so astonished for a 
moment, I did not realize his presence, then quickly drying 
my hands on my apron, I ran towards him. Would you 
believe it, he never offered to come towards me, but giving 
me such a sad, strange look, and without uttering a word, 
he turned and walked up the stairs. As soon as I could 
come to my senses I ran after him, but he was gone. 
The window was open and he must have climbed down 
the trellis work that the grape-vine clings to, and so left 
the house. I lay a\vake all night thinking, and expecting 
him to come back, but daylight came and no John. I got 
the breakfast and started out to hunt him up, and as I was 
walking along the street I saw my son just in front of me. 
I ran to catch up but he turned a corner, and when I 
reached there he was gone. I dare say he went into one of 
the neighbor's houses, but which one I could not find 
out. Now, sir, you can see that my son is evidently angry 
at something and will not speak to me. Won't you come 
over to Hockendaque to see him, and find out what 
is the matter'? The reverend gentleman, pit5dng the 
poor woman, returned with her to her home, hoping to 
find her boy and have mother and son reconciled. He 
hunted everywhere through the village, but could learn 
nothing of the soldier. No one had seen him but his 
mother. On Tuesday morning. May 5th, a letter came 
saying that the boy had been killed on Saturday evening, 
just at the time that he walked in to see his mother. Gentle- 
men, that is a true story of a Christian soldier in full uni- 
form and in broad daylight, and no sad-eyed Hindoo 
prowling around at midnight dressed in white, like Halpin 
tells about." 

" It's my turn now ", said another officer, " and I, also^ 
will tell of a Union soldier who fell at Chancellorsville. 
You all recollect Captain Harry G , of the Seventy- 
third Pennsylvania Volunteers. He was a frequent visitor 
in the camp of the One Hundred and Sixteenth, and we all 
loved him. He was one of the best and most lovable men 



ON THE PICKET RESERVE. 283 

in the army. I remember that he spent Sunday before the 
fight with us. Well, on that same Saturday evening that 
the dead boy went home to see his mother, Captain 
G was killed during the charge of Stonewall Jack- 
son on our right. Within a very few minutes of the time 
he fell his family heard his footsteps walking up the stairs 
and into his own room in his home in Philadelphia. The 
foot-fall was a heavy one, made by an army boot, and his 
sister remarked at the time : ' That is Harry's wraith ' "! 

" Very good ", chimed in Captain McGraw. " Now, I 
will tell you of a ghost in Ireland, who galloped on horse- 
back on certain nights of the year". ^ 

"Oh, no"! chorused everyone, "no Irish ghosts 
to-night, especially midnight shadows on horseback. That 
fellow must have belonged to the cavalry. Give us plain 
United States broad-daylight spectres. None of those 
dressed-in-white-midnight gentlemen who only appear in 
India or Ireland." 

" But what puzzles me ", said another, " is how Cap- 
tain G got his boots home. We can understand how 

a man can get through space himself, when a piece of shell 
or minie ball releases him from his earthly tenement, but 
how he can take his army boots along! That is the 
mystery". No reply greets this psychological query, how- 
ever, for it is getting dark, and the firing is getting brisk on 
the picket line. It is almost time for the relief to go out, 
and who knows but that some of us will be ghosts before 
morning. 

It is dark enough now to creep out to the front without 
being seen, and here is the detail with the canteens refilled ; 
but, before we go, maybe Halpin will give us a song". 

"Well, I don't mind '', says Halpin, "but one has to be 
careful to sing in a low tone, or our friends on the other 
side of the works might hear. I will give you a new song, 
just out, and by a namesake of mine. Colonel Charles G. 
Halpin. It is a mighty fine thing, and written by a good 
soldier and an able all 'round man'': 



284 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 



THE OIvD CANTEEN. 

There are bonds of all sorts in this world of ours, 
Letters of friendship and ties of flowers, 

And true lovers' knots I ween ; 
The girl and the boy are bound by a kiss, 
But there's never a bond, old friend, like this — 

We have drank from the same canteen. 

It was sometimes water and sometimes milkj 
And sometimes applejack, fine as silk ; 

But whatever the tipple has been, 
We shared it together in bane or bliss, 
And I warm to you, friend, when I think of this — 

We have drank from the same canteen. 

The rich and the great sit down to dine, 

And they quaff to each other in sparkling wine 

From glasses of crystal and green ; 
But I guess in the golden potations they miss 
The warmth of regard to be found in this — 

We have drank from the same canteen. 

We have shared our blankets and tents together, 
And have marched and fought in all kinds of weather, 

And hungry and full we have been ; 
Had days of battle and days of rest. 
But this memory I cling to and love the best — 

We have drank from the same canteen. 

For when wounded I lay on the outer slope. 
With my blood flowing fast, and but little hope 

Upon which my faint spirit could lean ; 
Oh, then, I remember, you crawled to my side. 
And, bleeding so fast it seems both must have died, 

We drank from the same canteen. 

" Beautiful, beautiful. It is dark enough now and we 
had better get the men out on the line before the moon 
comes up." 

" Second relief, fall in ! " 

Many an amusing incident and many a narrow escape 
occurred during the siege. One day while occupying the 
line in front of Fort Steadman, Wni. J. Curley, drummer 
boy of Company E, came from the fort across the field and 
above the rifle pits, looking for his company. Lieutenant 



ON THE PICKET RESERVE. 285 

Brady, of Company D, seeing his danger, called to him to 
jump into one of the rifle pits. Before he had time to do 
so, however, a Johnny let go and sent a ball through the 
head of Curley's drum. 

Curley was almost a child, but the youngest member of 
the regiment was a drummer boy of Company H, Christo- 
pher H. Moore, who enlisted when he was nine years and 
eight months old. Christopher was much better at forag- 
ing on the enemy than in getting music out of his drum. 
Because of his ability in preying upon the country he was 
nick-named " Mosby", after the celebrated cavalryman. If 
there were any chickens left on the line after the musician 
of Company H had passed along it was not his fault. 
" Mosby " seemed to have but one tune on his drum, but 
the music he gave the farmers when he was hustling for 
something good to eat was of many kinds and full of 
melody and sweetness. 

About October ist the regiment moved from the left to 
the right of Fort Steadman, a position which the colored 
troops had occupied previously. The regiment got into 
position somewhat earlier than our colored friends expected. 
Consequently they did not get all their commissary stores 
packed up as quickly as they should have done. The boys 
of the regiment were out of rations and very hungry. 
Private Caldwell, Company E, known all over the regiment 
as " Big Jim '', was one of the company cooks. He had a 
plan to get a supply without waiting for the commissary. 
He asked two men to go with him on a foraging expedition, 
and he did not have to ask twice. Away they went and in 
less than an hour they returned with sixty pounds of 
smoked bacon, two bags of beans, three boxes of hard tack 
and one jug of molasses. The colored boys had to suffer 
the loss, to be sure, while the boys of the regiment were 
swimming in bean soup for a week. 

In a letter written by Charley Barth we learn in his 
own language of an incident in the trenches : "About the 
first week in October we lay in front of Fort Steadman in 



286 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

the extreme outer works (the same that the regiment 
leveled to the ground later on). There was nothing 
between us and the enemy, two hundred yards away, and 
we were in full view of each other. If you showed your 
head you could hear the " zip " of the ball from the sharp- 
shooters' rifles. One day, about 4 p. m. , the Confederates 
began to cheer along their whole line, and about 5 p. m. 
Sergeant McElroy said : ' Barth, you will report for special 
duty.' In a short time I was called in line with about 
thirty or forty of our regiment. An officer called, 
"Attention ! " we were counted off in fours and a sergeant 
placed in command of each group of four. (The sergeants 
were from the Sixty-fourth New York, I think. They 
were not of our regiment.) Then he gave us our instruc- 
tions that after dark the sergeants were to take their men 
over the works and try to get close enough to the Johnnys 
to find out what they had been cheering about, but to be 
sure and come in before daylight as it would be sure death 
to remain out longer. Well, to say that I was scared is 
putting it very mildly. I looked over that corn field that 
lay between us and the enemy, and they had full command 
of the field. The sergeant was to do. the advancing and 
we were to support him. Well, after dark we went over 
the works and on our hands and knees crawled towards 
the enemy. Oh, how still we were and how careful not to 
break a stalk of corn ! Finally, we came to a small pit, 
dug, no doubt, by one of our pickets before the lines were 
made. Here the sergeant told us to remain until he came 
back as he was going on further. Well, that was the last 
we saw of him. In a short time the Johnnys opened on us, 
and how we four did hug the sacred soil of Virginia ! What 
a rattling the balls made among the cornstalks and what a 
long night that was to us ! I can remember the name of 
but one of our group. Daily, of Company A or B. Well, 
no one heard what the Johnnys had been cheering about 
but one, and he was captured. He was a member of 
Company G, I think." 



ON THE PICKET RESERVE. 287 

During September and October the regiment was 
moved from one part of the line to another, but always in 
the trenches — sometimes in Forts Morton and Rice, again 
in Forts Haskell or Steadman, but always under fire. 

Colonel Mulholland returned October 15th, having 
been absent, suffering from wounds, from June ist, and 
assumed command of the brigade, relieving lyieutenant- 
Colonel Gienny, Sixty-fourth New York. 



288 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

PETERSBURG. 
Turning Movement Against L,ee's Right. 

OCTOBER 27th. 

A S the end of October approached General Grant, wish- 
-^-^ ing to make a vigorous effort to capture Petersburg 
or, at least, to seize the Boydton Plank Road and South 
Side Railroad before the bad weather set in and compelled 
the suspension of active field operations, sent the larger 
part of the Second, Fifth and Ninth Corps to find and 
strike the right of the Confederate line. 

The expeditionary party marched during the night of 
October 26th and fought the battle of Boydton Plank 
Road on the 27th. The withdrawal of so large a force 
from the works in front of Petersburg necessarily left but 
a very thin line in the intrenchments. The First Division, 
Second Corps, commanded by General Nelson A. Miles, 
then numbering about 6,000 men, was spread out so as to 
occupy the whole line from the Appomattox River on the 
right to Battery 24, half way between the Jerusalem Plank 
Road and the Weldon Railroad. 

The Fourth Brigade of the Division, then commanded 
by the writer, occupied the line immediately opposite the 
Crater, where the mine explosion of July 30th had taken 
place. The left of the brigade occupying Fort Rice and 
the right extending towards Fort Steadman. 

The One Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment was 
stationed in the intrenchments near Fort Haskell. The 



PETERSBURG. 289 

picket firing was brisk during the day and rumors of the 
battle, which was then in progress on the left, were flying, 
and an anxious spirit was manifest among the men in the 
works. 

Towards evening, General Miles, wishing to deceive 
the enemy as to the force then holding the Union line, 
ordered an attack on the works in front to be made by a 
small party from each of the two brigades commanded by 
Colonel McDougal, and the writer who, being one of the 
principals in the affair, will tell the story of the event as 
it occurred to him personally. 

About 5.30 p. M., I received an order from General 
Miles to take one hundred men and make a demonstration 
on the enemy's works. Believing it quite possible to 
capture one of the forts in my front, I selected for the 
attempt one hundred men of the One Hundred and Forty- 
eighth Pennsylvania Regiment. I took the men from this 
organization because I could not withdraw the One Hun- 
dred and Sixteenth from the position occupied without 
endangering that important point in the line, and I knew 
the men of the One Hundred and Forty-eighth Regiment 
to be excellent and reliable, and a big consideration was 
that they were armed with the Spencer magazine rifle, 
capable of firing seven shots without reloading. 

The storming party was under command of Captain J. 
Z. Brown, Lieutenant P. D. Sprankle and lyientenants 
Alexander Gibb and John F. Benner. 

Addressing the men, I told them of the desperate 
nature of the duty required, and I said that no one need 
go unless willingly. Every man was not only willing but 
anxious to go. As it was impossible to reach the picket 
line (from which the attack was to be made) in a body 
since the sharpshooters were vigilant, and covered the 
ground between our main line and the picket, I ordered 
the party to break ranks and go out individually, taking 
different routes and creeping through the low brush, be 
able to assemble at a point indicated without being seen 



290 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

by the enemy. In fifteen minntes every man of the party 
met me as ordered. We were within fifty yards of the 
object of attack, and, so far, all had gone well. Forming 
the party into two sections, I ordered one, under Captain 
Brown, to run around the right of the fort and enter the 
sally port, while the second section was to charge up the 
face of the Banquet slope and, gaining the crest, pour their 
fire down into the works. 

Ten of the men were given axes instead of rifles, and 
were to run ahead, cut the wires that joined the chevaux- 
de-frise together, and open a section for the storming 
party to get through. The twilight was gathering by the 
time all was ready, and the orders were to "make the 
demonstration at 6 o'clock '\ As I was about to give the 
order to charge, I looked back and saw a horseman gallop- 
ing rapidly towards me. He was coming from the direc- 
tion of Division Headquarters, and thinking that he might 
be bringing some last order, I paused until he came up. 
It was Captain Henry D. Price, my Adjutant-General. He 
threw himself from his horse and said : " Colonel, what's 
up? I have been at Division Headquarters, and heard 
that you were going to make an attack. I am going 
along " 

I did not wish him to go, but he insisted upon it, and 
knowing his value, I finally consented with much reluc- 
tance. He drew his sword, unbuckled the belt and hand- 
ing it, together with the scabbard, to Lieutenant Tom Lee, 
one of my aides, he said : " Tom, if I am killed, send these 
to my mother ". 

I gave the order, and the gallant little band, leaping 
over the slight earth-works of the picket line, ran direct 
for the enemy's fort, not fifty yards distant. With a few 
blows the axe-men cut the fastenings that lashed the 
chevaux-de-frise together, dragged out a section, and the 
party ran through. 

The attack was a complete success, Brown entering the 
fort from the rear and Price mounting the slope in front. 




CAPTAIN AND BREVET MAJOR HENRY D. PRICE. 

Killed at Petersburg, October 27th, 1864. 



PETERSBURG. 291 

The defenders for a few moments made a gallant defense, 
but in vain. In ten minutes from the starting on the 
charge, the fort was carried, and all in it was in our pos- 
session. It was getting quite dark when the rush was 
made, and Captain Price disappeared from my view. I 
could not see him after he reached the crest, but I heard 
his voice as he called to the men to follow him, and then 
I heard him directing their fire. Suddenly his voice 
ceased, and I felt sure that he had fallen. 

As soon as the fort was won, the prisoners were sent 
into our lines, and an effort made to bring in or destroy 
the artillery, but little could be accomplished with the 
latter, as the noble band that had done so well were now 
few in number. There was no possibility of getting 
re-enforcements. None could be spared from the thin line 
that held the Union works, and after holding the Confed- 
erate fort for twenty minutes, I very reluctantly gave the 
order to abandon it, and return to our own line, and not a 
moment too soon, for the enemy had begun concentrating 
a force to recapture the works and their forts, and from 
the right and the left of the one captured, there poured in 
a terrible fire on the little band of Union men then in pos- 
session. 

The following account of the action is from the Phila- 
delphia " Press " of November ist, 1864 : 

Special correspondence to the " Press". 

From General Grant's Army — Brilliant affair 
on the centre — Capture of a Rebel Fort and fifty 
prisoners — The garrison was completely sur- 
prised — A Confederate Colonel in our hands — 
Important information gained — The enemy's line 
very weak — Their picket line cut into for several 
hours. 

(Mr. C. Edmund's Despatches). 

Before Petersburg, October 28th, 1864, 9 p. m. 
The tremendous artillery firing which took place last 
evening, commencing about 9 o'clock and continuing until 



292 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMEMT. 

past midnight, turns out not to have been altogether with- 
out cause. One of the most brilliant affairs in which the 
Second Corps has participated has just been enacted by a 
portion of the Fourth Brigade of the First Division. 
About one hundred and fifty yards beyond our picket line 
and scarcely a fourth of a mile from the famous mine 
which was exploded by the Ninth Corps under Burnside 
some months ago stands one of the strongest and best 
constructed fortifications in the enemy's outer line. It is 
an earthwork, with bomb proofs, and is environed with 
abattis of novel construction. Between this fort and Fort 
Rice, held by one brigade, is a ravine which the adjacent 
enemy's forts may sweep. The order for the assault was 
issued by General Miles, who intended the affair mainly as 
a reconnoissance, having no idea that the enemy could be 
so easily caught napping. To Colonel Mulholland, One 
Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, the 
general management of the works was intrusted. Much 
against the wishes of the colonel, Captain Henry D. Price, 
of the same regiment, volunteered to lead the charge, and 
a detachment of one hundred men from the One Hundred 
and Forty-eighth Pennsylvania Regiment also volunteered. 
Shortly after 5 45 p. m. the brave little band passed out 
from the defences and silently formed inside our picket 
lines. Colonel Mulholland instructed Captain Price as to 
the method of removing the abattis and directed the men 
not to fire a shot but to use the bayonet. They were like- 
wise ordered not to cheer unless they should succeed in 
entering the fort, when a single cheer would be a sufficient 
signal for sending forward reinforcements. About 6 
o'clock the men started forward on double-quick. It was 
raining at the time. The evening was dark, and they had 
almost reached the fort before the enemy perceived them. 
Still no shot was fired. They sprang over the earthworks 
and before the garrison could recover from its surprise the 
victory was ours. The Confederates made some little 
resistance, but they had been taken completely by surprise 



PETERSBURG. 293 

and, save a few who effected their escape, the garrison, 
numbering about fifty men, were taken prisoners. We 
succeeded in taking the following officers : Colonel Harri- 
son, Forty-sixth Virginia Regiment, commanding the fort ; 
Lieutenant-Colonel Wise, Forty-sixth Virginia Regiment ; 
Lieutenant Bylen, Thirty-fourth Virginia Regiment ; Lieu- 
tenant Coxe, Forty-sixth Virginia Regiment, and about 
forty private soldiers. Colonel Harrison could not at first 
be induced to believe that he was a prisoner, so astonished 
was he at the audacity of the enterprise, and pronounced 

the affair to be a "d d Yankee trick." 

We learned from the prisoners that Wise's Brigade, 
Bushrod Johnson's Division of General Anderson's Corps, 
together with Ransom's and Finnegan's Brigades, held the 
line opposite us. In addition to the prisoners taken, 
numbers of the enemy were killed and wounded in the 
trenches, refusing to surrender. Colonel Harrison admits 
that if our assailing party had been supported by two 
hundred men they could have maintained their position in 
the fort. But this was not to be. As soon as we took the 
fort our men gave a cheer as a signal, and Colonel Mul- 
holland despatched his aides to the adjacent fortifications 
to obtain the needed reinforcements. It was in the plan 
of arrangements that the Twenty-sixth Michigan should 
be held in reserve. But this regiment did not arrive upon 
the grounds in time and no available troops could be got 
ready to send forward for half an hour. In the meantime 
the enemy rallied about seven hundred strong and drove 
out our men. About fifty men out of the hundred are 
missing, the majority being wounded. Captain Price, the 
leader of the charge, was the only officer killed. His body 
is still in the enemy's possession. A complete list of the 
casualties is subjoined. During the fighting which this 
rencontre led to neither side used artillery, each fearing 
that it might inflict more damage upon its own men than 
on the enemy. But immediately upon the return of our 
assaulting party with their prisoners all our forts in this 



294 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

vicinity opened upon the Confederate forts a terrific 
cannonade, to which they responded with equal vigor. 
The firing commenced about 9 o'clock, as I have stated, 
and lasted until i o'clock this morning. During the whole 
time the rain was falling. 

[From the Philadelphia " Press" of November 2d, 1864.] 

The body of Captain Price has been recovered. A flag 
of truce will be sent for it in a day or two. A couple of 
deserters who came in last night state that they saw the 
body of a captain lying in a trench fronting the fort, and 
from their description there can be no doubt that it was 
the body of the lamented officer referred to. 

The Colonel Wise captured turns out to be a nephew 
of ex-Governor Wise. He was in Philadelphia at the 
breaking out of the war and was a student in the office of 
one of our most eminent members of the bar. At the 
time of his capture Governor Wise was in the fort but 
escaped by concealing himself in one of the bomb proofs. 
He had just despatched a courier to one of the adjacent 
regiments with a circular. The courier was taken but 
chewed up the missive in such a hurry that its contents 
are unknown. All the prisoners admit that their line was 
weaker than it had ever been before since the campaign 
commenced. They say that if we had had one regiment 
in reserve to reinforce the storming party we could have 
held the fort permanently, and with this fort we could 
have swept the whole outer line of their works. No better 
evidence of the weakness of Lee's army is needed than 
this fact. 

As soon as the storming party returned to our own line 
all the forts on both sides opened a terrific fire that con- 
tinued until midnight. The rain fell and the darkness 
became intense. The One Hundred and Sixteenth Regi- 
ment stood in line during the fight, ready to move forward 
if ordered to do so. When the men learned of the death 
of Captain Price there was many a tear shed for the gallant 



PETERSBURG. 295 

boy whom we all loved so much. Lieutenant P. D. 
Sprankle, of the One Hundred and Forty-eighth Regiment, 
was severely wounded and left in the hands of the enemy, 
as were nearly all the wounded of that regiment. In the 
darkness and confusion it was impossible to remove them. 

I have said that I selected the men of the One Hundred 
and Forty-eighth Regiment for this affair because I believed 
them to be reliable. I will add that I now think that in 
point of discipline, material of which it was composed, 
gallantry and every quality necessary to make a perfect 
organization that regiment had no superior and but few 
equals in the army. The article taken from the Philadelphia 
"Press" and quoted here does an injustice when it says 
that the storming party was led by Captain Price. The 
attack was led by Captain J. Z. Brown and Captain Price 
was with the party as a staff officer but took a very active 
part until he fell. I had the very great pleasure of 
recommending Captain Brown for the brevet rank of major 
and also a Congress medal of honor for his distinguished 
bravery and excellent conduct on this occasion, and I 
rejoice that the well-deserved honors were accorded him. 

A few days after the fight a flag of truce went out, and 
the body of Captain Price recovered. We learned that on 
the morning after the assault, an Irishman of a Georgia 
regiment had seen the body and recognized it by the 
number of the regiment as a former member of the Irish 
Brigade. He had tenderly wrapped him in a blanket and 
carefully buried him. When the body was brought into our 
lines, it was embalmed and sent home. The ball that killed 
him had entered his forehead just above the eye. When 
he was embalmed he looked smiling and natural, his lips 
partly open, showing his beautiful teeth, and so died one 
whom we all loved and knew as "Little Pricey". Only 
a boy, just from school, but a hero and a veteran, gentle 
and unassuming, but brave as the bravest. How his boy- 
ish laughter would ring through camp ! Even in battle 
his face would wear a smile. He sleeps by the Schuylkill 



296 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

on whose banks Meade and Hancock and a host of his 
comrades rest, and among the thousands who fell in the 
great struggle, none are more worthy of honor than the 
noble boy who died so bravely, and whose memory will 
ever be cherished. 

A few days before the death of Captain Price, as he and 
I were passing along the works, we noticed a mass of roses 
in an old garden. I accidently expressed a desire to have 
one. The autumn had lingered long that year, and it was 
remarkable that the rose tree was in bloom. The bush 
was growing on a rise of ground, lately the garden of the 
Hare House, but where Fort Steadman had been built. 
The spot where the roses were blooming was exposed to 
the fire of the sharpshooters, and to pull a rose would seem 
like courting instant death. When, in passing, I had 
admired the flowers, Harry had said nothing, but in half 
an hour afterwards he came into my tent with an armful 
of roses. He had exposed himself to the fire until he had 
pulled every one from the bush. I could not help but 
admire his utter want of fear and reckless daring, although 
condemning the useless risk he had taken. As he was 
standing in the tent-door, with his arms full of flowers, 
and laughing as if the whole thing were a great joke, one 
of the boys of his company came up to bid him good-bye, 
as he was just starting for home on a twenty days' fur- 
lough. As I knew that the young man lived quite near 
the Captain's home, I quickly tied up a large bunch of the 
roses and told him to deliver them to Captain Price's 
mother. 

A few months after the close of the war, I visited the 
family, and I found Mrs. Price to be a sweet old lady. As 
she sat in the parlor, talking of her dead boy, I noticed 
hanging on the wall above her head a garland of roses 
under glass. 

When I inquired where they came from, Harry's sister 
said that "he had sent them home to mother a few days 



PETERSBURG. 297 

before being killed ". I then remembered the circum- 
stances, and tried to tell the family how they came to be 
there, but found it impossible. Every time I essayed to 
speak, my feelings overcame me. If Mrs. Price is still 
living she may learn, for the first time, from these pages, 
the story of her son's roses. 

The captured work was known as Davidson's Salient, 
and stood about fifty yards to the left (the Union left) of 
the Crater. A dark, rainy night followed the fight, and 
when morning broke, the men of the One Hundred and 
Forty-eighth eagerly scanned the fort that they had so 
gallantly captured the evening before, and which was now 
again in the hands of the enemy, and saw some bodies lying 
around the work. One with upturned face to the falling 
rain was recognized as that of Captain Price. The men 
composing the storming party of the One Hundred and 
Forty-eighth were heartily congratulated by their com- 
rades, and the following order was issued from Brigade 
Headquarters : 

(General Orders. No. 31.) 

Headquarters Fourth Brigade, First Division, 
Second Corps. 

October 28th, 1864. 

The Colonel commanding the brigade takes pleasure 
in congratulating the detail of the One Hundred and 
Forty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers for the gallantry 
displayed in the assault and capture of the enemy's fort, 
on the evening of October 27th, 1864. Captain Jerry 
Brown, Lieutenants Sprankle, Gibb and Benner deserve 
special mention for their braver}^ and skill in leading the 
charge. 

He deeply regrets the loss of Captain Henry D. Price, 
One Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, 
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Fourth Brigade, who 
fell nobly sustaining the proud name he had won by his 



298 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

valor in the field, and sympathizes with the brave men 
who were wounded. 

By order of Colonel Mnlholland, 

J. Wendel Muffly, 

Lieutenant and A. A. A. G. 

The Confederate account of the affair is given by Gen- 
eral B. R. Johnson, and is most interesting. He states 
that the Confederates took fifteen prisoners, including one 
Lieutenant. He also accounts for Captain Price, whom he 
mentions. As thirty-three of the One Hundred and Forty- 
eighth were missing, it would seem that seventeen of them 
must have been killed or left between the lines too severely 
wounded to get away. 

Headquarters Johnson's Division. 

Petersburg, Va., October 28th, 1864. 

I^ieutenant : About 10 o'clock on yesterday morning^ 
I moved Wallace's Brigade to the right, and relieved 
Saunder's and Harris's Brigades in the trenches. Wise's 
Brigade was moved from reserve into the position on the 
front line vacated by Wallace's Brigade. My right now 
rests at Battery No. 30. 

About dark last evening a force from the One Hundred 
and Forty-eighth Pennsylvania Regiment, Fourth Brigade, 
First Division, Second Corps, perhaps one hundred strong, 
advanced without support upon the battery on our front 
line to the right of the Baxter Road^ known as Davidson's 
Battery. It was the usual hour for posting and relieving 
pickets, and the division officer of the day, who happened 
to be passing at that point, mistook the force for pickets 
returning to the line, and gave orders to sentinels not to 
fire. By others this force was regarded as deserters com- 
ing to our lines. This impression was communicated by 
the orders on the infantry line to the gun in rear of 
the Crater, which bore on the ground over which the force 




l\ 






MAJOR-GENERAL ANDREW A. HUMPHREYS. 
Commanded Second Corps, November 25th, 1864 to June 28th, 1865. 



PETERSBURG. 299 

advanced. A light fire was, however, opened by our 
infantry to the right and left of Davidson's Battery, With 
axes the little force opened a passage through our chevaux- 
de-frise, and entered Davidson's Battery and mingled with 
our men. Their hostile character having been ascertained, 
troops of Wise's Brigade charged them and drove them 
out, capturing one Lieutenant and fourteen men, who 
report that a number of their men were wounded and 
killed in the advance, among the latter a Captain of the 
One Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania Regiment. 

About lo P. M. the enemy advanced upon and drove out 
men from a portion of the picket line on the right of Rive's 
house, occupied by troops of Wallace's Brigade. General 
Wallace promptly threw out a force and reoccupied the 
line. During these events the mortar and cannon firing 
were heavy, especially from Colquitt's Salient to my right. 
Later in the night there was considerable artillery firing 
on my right. During the latter part of the night, Briga- 
dier-General Ransom, whose brigade is on my left, and 
extends to the river, reported that the enemy's troops were 
seen to be moving to our left. It was thought they might 
be massing in his front. 

Respectfully, your obedient servant, 

B. R. Johnson, 

Major-Gen eral. 

Lieutenant McWillie, 

A. A. A.-G. 

On the 26th of November, General Winfield S. Han- 
cock left the Second Corps and proceeded north to organize 
a new corps to be composed entirely of veterans. To try 
to express in words the sorrow of officers and men at part- 
ing with the great soldier with whom they had been so 
long associated, would be a useless effort. The new com- 
mander of the corps was General Andrew A. Humphreys, 
like Hancock, a Pennsylvanian and a brilliant soldier. 



300 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

During this month, Major John Teed was released from 
prison. He had been captured at Gettysburg, nearly a 
year and a half before. He returned broken in health and 
unable to perform field duty, and resigned as soon as he 
reached the regiment. 

Towards the latter end of November, the Second Corps 
was relieved from duty in the forts and works that were so 
continually exposed to the fire of the enemy, and was 
moved to the left where the lines were further apart, and, 
owing to the woods, were often not even in sight of each 
other. The relief to the men of the regiment was very 
great, and after the severe strain of being two months and 
a half under fire, night and day, they enjoyed the relaxa- 
tion more than words can express. But even then it was 
not all rest and peace. No hour was free from care, and 
the sudden call to arms was frequent. The regiment occu- 
pied the works on the Peebles' Farm, and from this point 
made several rapid marches to different parts of the line. 

One Sunday afternoon, when the sun was shining, the 
Chaplain holding services, and the voice of prayer and 
hymn of praise ascending among the autumn trees, the 
long roll was heard, and in ten minutes the division was 
on the march. Arriving at a place on the extreme left of 
the Union lines, the Confederates were seen busily engaged 
throwing up works and putting batteries into position. 
The Union troops were not slow to follow, and picks and 
spades were handled deftly. Before the works were half 
completed, firing began, and a score of men of the division 
who had been enjoying the sunshine, and joining in the 
afternoon prayer, were buried as the sun went down. 

December the 9th, the division, commanded by General 
Miles, went on a reconnoissance to Hatcher's Run and had 
a sharp fight, carrying some works and capturing some 
prisoners. The regiment in this affair did not lose a 
man, being with the brigade held in reserve. They 
bivouaced in the woods, and returned to camp at the Pee- 
bles' Farm next day. 



PETERSBURG. 301 

Christinas, 1864, the third and last Christmas in the 
army, was enjoyed by all in camp — the same games and 
the same efforts to force amusement. Boxes from home 
with plenty of good things, enough and to spare for a 
good dinner to everyone. Happiness and goood cheer 
reigned for the time, but while all was pleasant in the 
camp in front of Petersburg, Christmas was an extremely 
sad day for those of the regiment who were captives in 
Southern prisons. It would seem as though the thoughts 
of home and the dark surroundings of the day had a fear- 
fully depressing effect on the prisoners. Of forty-five men 
of the regiment who died in Andersonville and other 
Southern prisons, several died on this Christmas day. No 
doubt but that the surroundings hastened the end, but we 
can fondly hope that, after all, it was a happy Christmas 
for them. They were home indeed, and their marches 
and battles ended. The regiment was commanded during 
the winter by Major David W. Megraw, who had been 
promoted from Captain of Company H, Colonel Mulhol- 
land being in command of the brigade. 

On the morning of February 5th, 1865, the Second 
Corps started on a reconnoissance to Hatcher's Run, four 
or five miles to the left of the Union Army. At about 
noon, the enemy's skirmishers were discovered and driven 
across the stream. Towards four o'clock, the regiment 
crossed the stream in line, the men wading through the 
ice-cold water. Several were hit while in the act of cross- 
ing, and several men in the corps were drowned. After 
reaching the further bank the firing became heavy, and 
the fighting close and severe. The Confederates made a 
stubborn resistance, but were gradually forced back into 
their intrenchments, leaving several hundred prisoners, 
mostly North Carolinians, in the Union lines. The regi- 
ment remained in front of the Confederate works until 
after dark, when the whole force was withdrawn and 
returned to camp. During the fight, and long into the 
night, a terrible storm of snow, sleet and rain prevailed,. 



302 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

and the men suffered greatly from the wet and cold. 

In the early spring orders were issued authorizing the 
names of battles to be inscribed on the colors of the 
regiment : 

Headquarters, Army of the Potomac. 

March 7th, 1865. 
(General Orders, No. 10.) 

In accordance with the requirements of General Orders, 
No. 19, of 1862, from the War Department, and in con- 
formity with the reports of boards convened to examine 
into the services rendered by the troops concerned,and by the 
authority of the Lieutenant-General Commanding Armies 
of the United States, it is ordered that there shall be 
inscribed upon the colors or guidons of the following 
regiments and batteries, serving in this army, the names 
of the battles in which they have borne a meritorious part, 
and as hereinafter specified, viz.: 

ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTEENTH PENNSYLVANIA 

VOLUNTEERS. 

Fredericksburg, Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Todd's Tavern, 

Chancellorsville, Po River, Petersburg, Auburn, 

Gettysburg, Spottsylvania, Strawberry Plains, Pamunky, 

Bristoe Station, North Anna, Deep Bottom, William's Farm. 

Mine Run, Totopotomy, Reams Station, 

By command of Major-General Meade : 

George D. Ruggles, 

Assistant Adjutant-General. 



GRAVELLY RUN AND FIVE FORKS. 303 



CHAPTER XVII. 

GRAVELLY RUN AND FIVE FORKS. 
MARCH, 1865. 

TTAPPY spring time again ! The woods animated with 
-*^^ the renewed life of another year; blossoms and 
budding leaves ; the mating birds busy with household 
cares ; the laughing streams once more free from wintry 
chains, rushing towards the sea. All nature gave charm 
and health to the army, bidding renewed hope and the last 
strong, earnest efforts to ultimate success and final victory. 

Towards the latter end of March, all being ready, the 
great struggle began. The thirteen days campaign that 
was to end the war was severe, and the marching and 
fighting was without rest or interruption. During the 
night of March 28th the Second Corps withdrew from the 
intrenchments in front of Petersburg and on the 29th 
moved to the left, crossing Hatcher's Run by the Vaughan 
Road. Shortly after noon fighting commenced to the left 
of Dabney's Mill, and was sharp and earnest. The rain 
fell in torrents, flooding the low, swampy country into 
which the troops of the Second Corps were advancing, but 
the storm had but little effect in delaying the end. 

During the 30th the fighting and skirmishing in front 
of the regiment was continuous and the fire seemed to 
come from all sides. There was no chance to cook, eat or 
sleep, and even when darkness fell there was no opportunity 
to prepare coffee. The rain extinguished most of the fires 
and those that did burn were soon made targets for the 
enemy's fire, which spilled the coffee and knocked over the 
cooks. 



304 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

The regiment lost some of the best men during the 
evening of the 29th and on the 30th. Early on the morn- 
ing of that day the First Division, Second Corps, had 
moved still further to the left and joined the force of 
General Sheridan. 

MARCH 31sT. 

The battle of March 31st and April ist was of the most 
sanguinary nature and the One Hundred and Sixteenth 
Regiment did noble work, but at a fearful cost. Lieutenant 
Eugene Brady was killed, and Major David W. Megraw 
and Adjutant Thos. Ewing wounded. The losses among 
the enlisted men were heavy, and as the dead were left 
where they fell the extent of the loss was never known. 

During the fight of March 31st General Lee commanded 
the Confederates in person. The attack of the enemy on 
Ayer's Division of the Fifth Corps was of so courageous 
and impetuous a character that the line gave way. The 
commander of the Second Corps (General Humphreys), 
seeing Ayer's men going to the rear, quickly ordered in 
the First Division. General Miles led it forward with a 
wonderful dash and hurled back the Confederate brigades 
of Wise and Hunton, capturing a flag and many prisoners 
and restoring the Union lines. 

Lieutenant Eugene Brady, who was killed on this day^ 
was a brave and most excellent officer and an estimable 
man. He seemed to have a premonition that he would be 
killed, and on the expiration of a short furlough, some 
months before his death, he bade his friends good-bye and told 
them that he would not see them again. Captain Nowlen, 
who was home at the same time, remarked to him : '' Yes, 
Brady, we will say farewell to our friends, for we will both 
be killed in the coming campaign." Unhappily, his 
words came true. Sergeant Edward S. Kline, in a letter 
to a friend, tells the story of Lieutenant Brady's death. 
He says: "I remember distinctly, after wading across a 
creek, that the enemy had some rifle pits on a hill in a 




LIEUTENANT EUGENE BRADY. 
Killed at Five Forks, March 31st, 1865. 



GRAVELLY RUN AND FIVE FORKS 305 

field and Lieutenant Brady said, 'Let lis go for that pit.' 
Together with fonr or five other men I joined him and we 
succeeded in gaining possession of the pit, but the enemy 
soon had a flank fire on us. I think I was the only survivor. 
Lieutenant Brady was killed first. He made some remark 
about a Confederate color-bearer shaking his flag at us 
from behind a tree some hundred yards distant when he 
was hit right in the forehead. He fell against me and 
died instantly. The rest of my comrades were all silent 
and, I think, all dead, so after relieving Lieutenant Brady 
of his shoulder straps and memorandum book, thinking 
he would be captured, I made a very narrow escape back to 
the regiment, which was under cover of the hill. The 
enemy was afterwards charged and driven back some 
distance, after which I was sent back with a detail and put 
Lieutenant Brady and his effects in charge of the regi- 
mental surgeon. Dr. Wm. B. Hartman." 

The body of Lieutenant Brady was taken home to 
Philadelphia and buried in the Old Cathedral Cemetery 
in that city. 

During the entire day of April ist the firing was almost 
incessant. General Miles, ever vigilant, made frequent 
dashes on the Confederate works and the regiment was 
always in the front. On the evening of that day General 
Grant ordered the commander of the Second Corps to 
throw forward his left and, by seizing the White Oak 
Road, prevent the enemy from sending troops against 
Sheridan at Five Forks. 

Miles's Division was assigned to the work, and it held 
the road until after dark when an order came to assault 
the enemy. A furious artillery fire preceded a rush on the 
Confederate works. Moving in the dense darkness over 
brush and tangle wood, the regiment struck the enemy's 
skirmishers, drove them back into their works and 
advanced into the slashing. The position could not be 
carried and the firing died away, but hardly had the fight 
been ended when Miles, with the First Division, was 



306 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

ordered to push the enemy wherever found. On the 
morning of April 2d, moving out the Claiborn Road, he 
came in contact with four brigades under General Cook. 
General Miles promptly attacked and, after the most severe 
fighting, carried the position at 3 o'clock, capturing guns, 
colors and prisoners. 

During one of the charges of this day Color-Sergeant 
Peter Kelly fell wounded. Sergeant Edward S. Kline 
rushed forward and quickly raised the flag and carried it 
to the end of the fight. Sergeant Chas. Maurer, of Com- 
pany F, was then appointed color-sergeant and carried the 
flag to the end. 

One of the men killed in this fight was more than 
usually beloved by his comrades — John S. Laguin, Com- 
pany B. He was the life of the company, full of good 
humor and fun, and brave as he was good. His comrades 
buried him tenderly by the side of a little school house, 
and thought so much of him that after the war closed they 
sent a committee down to Virginia to bring the body home. 

Whilst Miles was fighting so fiercely at Sunderland 
Station on this Sunday of April 2d the whole Union line 
had advanced and captured all the works around Petersburg 
and Richmond, with the exception of a few detached forts, 
and those cities were at the mercy of the Union Army. 
The end was near at hand, and as Mr. Davis, the President 
of the Southern Confederacy, knelt in prayer in St. Paul's 
Church, a messenger from General Lee informed him that 
all was over and that the Confederate Army would at once 
evacuate the works still remaining in their possession and 
retreat towards the South. 

APRIL 3rd. 

There are hours in the life of all men that are filled 
with a joy so great that nothing can add to or increase it. 
The morning of April 3d, 1865, was an occasion of this 
nature, giving to each and every tired and wear\- soldier a 
meed of happiness and a thrill of joyful emotion the like 



GRAVELLY RUN AND FIVE FORKS. , 307 

of which he might never experience again. Richmond 
and Petersburg taken and the Confederate Army in full 
retreat was the news that flashed through the ranks. All 
fatigue, sufferings and trials were on the instant forgotten, 
and exhausted men who were scarcely able to drag their 
limbs along leapt with delight and felt fresh and strong 
enough to start in immediate and rapid pursuit of the 
flying foe. Without waiting for rations or further rest the 
march began : all day long, tramp, tramp, tramp, in an 
effort to catch up to and capture or destroy the still large 
and formidable army which during the night of April 2d, 
had abandoned the long line of works that encircled the 
Confederate Capitol and Petersburg and passing around 
the left flank of the Union Army was escaping towards 
the South. 

The men of the One Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment 
were hungry and tired, but hunger and fatigue were alike 
forgotten as mile after mile was passed. When evening fell, 
the Second Corps bivouaced on Wintercome Creek. The 
sleep was short but sound, and on the morning of the 4th, 
the march was resumed. Another day of hope and expecta- 
tion, hard and rapid marching and extreme fatigue. The 
roads were heavy with rain, but the men were buoyed up 
with excitement of the chase. Evening again, and a short 
rest at Deep Creek, when the corps halted at 7 P. m. On 
the road again at i a. m. of the 5th, and another day of 
marching with hardly any rest, reaching Jettersville late 
in the afternoon. During the night it was learned that 
the Confederate Army had concentrated around Amelia 
Court House, within three miles or less, and at 6 A. m. 
the Second, Fifth and Sixth Corps moved to the attack, 
but as the line approached the Confederates' position, their 
troops were seen in full retreat around the left flank of the 
Union forces. The flight of the enemy was first discovered 
by the Second Corps, and the artillery dashed into posi- 
tion and opened upon the moving columns. After some 
sharp fighting the whole Union force abandoned the move- 



308 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

ment on Amelia Court House, and took up the pursuit of 
the retreating foe. In the wild race of this 6th of April, 
all fatigue, hunger and hardship was forgotten. It was 
anything but a demoralized ami}- that was making for the 
South. Although beaten and driven from the works they 
had held so gallantly and well, the Confederates were still 
as brave and defiant as on the first battlefield of the war. 
But as the miles rolled away under the swift feet of the 
men, evidences of the final breakup became more apparent 
every hour. Hundreds of totally exhausted Confederates 
were found by the way and became prisoners. Ambulances, 
tents and baggage of all descriptions littered the road. 

The Union artillery marched in the van, and wherever 
it was possible to strike the rear or flank of the enemy's 
columns, the batteries would rush for a position, line of 
battle would be formed on a run, and a fight would be on. 
The Confederate General, John B. Gordon, commanded 
the force immediately in front of the Second Corps, and 
on this day he still further added to his reputation as a 
great soldier, if that were possible. 

The last stand of the day was made at Sailor's Creek, 
where a severe and stubborn fight resulted in another 
Union victory, and the trophies of the Second Corps were 
four guns, thirteen flags, two thousand prisoners and an 
immense supply train. The men of the One Hundred and 
Sixteenth helped themselves liberally to the contents of 
the wagons. New Confederate uniforms took the place of 
worn out Union clothes. Never were the blue and grey 
so mixed up as on this occasion. Tired and hungry, but 
very happy, the men sank to sleep. The morrow would 
see the last battle of the long and bloody war. 

FARMVILLE. 
APRIL 7th. 

Marched at 5 A. m., and when High Bridge, on the 
Appomattox, was reached, the enemy was discovered 



FARMVILLE. 309 

making an attempt to destroy the bridges, all having 
escaped to the other side of the river. By a vigorous attack 
the enemy was compelled to retreat, and the bridges were 
saved. The Second Corps crossed and again took up the 
pursuit, and at i o'clock came up with the enemy, who 
were strongly intrenched. General Humphreys promptly 
attacked and kept up an almost continual series ot 
assaults until dark, the indomitable Miles, with the First 
Division, making the last attack of the day. Farmville 
was a bloody fight for the First Division, 424 officers and 
men falling on that day. In the Second Division, 
General Thomas A. Smyth, the noble officer who com- 
manded the Irish Brigade in the first days of the Wilder- 
ness Campaign, was killed. He was a typical soldier, 
handsome, fearless and beloved, and was the last general 
officer to fall during the war. 

APRIL Sth. 

Daybreak revealed the Confederate works in front of 
the Second Corps evacuated, and the enemy gone. At 
5.30 A. M. the troops were again on the road in hot pursuit. 
All day long a continuous rapid march. Hundreds of the 
best men fell by the way exhausted. Human nature had 
reached the extreme limit of endurance. 

The One Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment suffered in 
this way as well as other commands, but not to the same 
extent. The men of the regiment did nobly, and but few 
were missing when, at midnight, the column halted, and 
they were allowed to fall on the ground to instantly sink 
to sleep. 

Both Generals Grant and IMeade accompanied the 
column of the Second Corps during the day's march ; 
while Sheridan, with the cavalry and the Fifth and 
Twenty-fourth Corps, was pushing on to head off the 
enemy at Appomattox. 



310 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 



APRIL 9th. 



Rations were issued at daylight, and the troops of the 
Second Corps did not get on the road until 8 o'clock, but 
when they did fall in and start after the enemy, it was 
with as much vim and ardor as characterized the first day's 
march. 

Towards noon, the advance struck the skirmishers of 
the Confederates, and General Humphreys promptly formed 
line and moved forward to attack when the welcome news 
arrived that negotiations, looking to a surrender of the 
enemy, were in progress, and the firing was stopped. Then 
came a few anxious hours of waiting, gazing across at the 
narrow strip that divided the two lines, and wondering 
whether the move would be to attack and slay, or cross 
and shake hands. At 4 o'clock in the afternoon, the glad 
news swept through the lines : " Lee and the Confederate 
Army have surrendered", and glorious and final victory, 
and a country saved were the great rewards of four years 
of the most awful and sanguinary war that mankind had 
ever witnessed. 

Of the scenes following the surrender, it is superfluous 
to speak. All men have learned how nobly, and with what 
tender regard, the commander of the Union Army treated 
the orallant foe. How the members of the two armies 
mingled together, and how the Union soldier shared with 
the men in grey his ration and his blanket. Foemen yes- 
terday, brothers to-day, with not a whit less of love for 
the Union, or a particle less determination to preserve it, 
the soldiers who had fought so bravely and long for the 
salvation of the Republic could not but admire the superb 
heroism of the men who had just grounded their arms and 
rolled up their flag which was never to be unfurled again. 
The men of the North can never admit the justice of the 
Southern cause in the great war, but every man who par- 
ticipated in the fight, or witnessed the Confederate troops 
in battle, is willing to acknowledge their magnificent 



FARMVILLE. 311 

bravery. They were Americans, and fought as only 
Americans can, and none but Americans could have con- 
quered them. No wonder that Grant said to them: 
" Keep your swords and your horses and return to your 
homes, and you will not be disturbed by the United States 
so long as you observe your parole and the laws ", and the 
soldier, through his blinding tears of joy, saw now, in his 
late enemy, only a brother, a friend and a countryman, and. 
shook hands and parted, one towards his Southern home, 
the other towards the North. Appomattox was a reunion : 
peace after the war, calm after the storm. When each 
combatant shall reach home once more, and look across 
the crimson fields of blood and carnage that lie between 
the North and South, where hundreds of thousands of the 
blue and gray sleep in death together, may each one ever 
pray that God bless the Union ; and the blood of the North 
and South that has been so freely shed will be only another 
sacred tie to bind the nation together in harmony, good 
will and peace, with one destiny and one flag. 

Between the lines the smoke hung low, 

And shells flew screaming to and fro, 
While blue or gray in sharp distress 
Rode fast, their shattered lines to press 

Again upon the lingering foe. 

'Tis past — and now the roses blow 
Where war was waging years ago, 
And naught exists save friendliness 
Between the lines. 

It will ever be a proud thought to the men of the One 
Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and a 
proud boast of their descendants, that the regiment was 
present, and in the ver\' front when the surrender of 
General Lee and the army of Northern Virginia took place; 
and it so happened that the news of the surrender was first 
communicated to the command by General Meade in 
person. 



312 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

It is interesting to read the letters and memoranda 
written by officers and men during the last campaign. 
In the diary of Captain Yocnm we read: "Received 
orders to march 28th of March, 1865. Broke camp 
March 29th and moved to the left. 5 p. m. met the enemy, 
stacked arms for the night. Situation, swamp ; weather, 
rainy. March 30th, moved by the flank to the left and to 
the front, as skirmishers met the enemy's skirmishers and 
charged, driving them to their works. 5 P. M., supported 
a battery under a heavy artillery fire, threw up works and 
remained in this position until March 31st, when we moved 
to the left to support the Third Division, Fifth Corps. 
The latter were repulsed when our brigade forded Hatcher's 
Run and charged. The fighting was very severe as the 
enemy was in good positions. In consequence of brigade 
on our right not supporting in time we were compelled to 
fall back. Reformed and advanced a second time, driving 
the enemy at all points. Lieutenants Brady, of Company 
D, and Condy, Company E, were killed. Major Megraw 
and Adjutant Thos. Ewing were wounded, and the loss 
among the enlisted men was severe. Threw up works and 
held the position. April ist, supported battery, after 
which marched and countermarched in keeping up con- 
nections with Fifth Corps. Cavalry on the left and corps 
to the right. April 2d, severe fighting. Brigade charged, 
capturing two pieces of artillery, five hundred prisoners 
and the South Side Railroad. The color-bearer. Sergeant 
Peter Kelly, was wounded and several others killed and 
wounded. April 3d, supported battery and skirmished. 
April 4th, ad\-ancing, supporting battery and skirmishing. 
April 5th, skirmishing. April 6th, captured baggage 
teams. April 7th, severe fighting; brigade lost heavily. 
Brigade bugler killed. April 8th, heavy skirmishing. 
April 9th, halted, cooked coffee and received the glorious 
news of the surrender." 

In a letter to a friend Sergeant-Major S. D. Hunter 
gives a vivid description of the last day : 



FARMVILLE. 313 

''April 9th, 1865, found us again on the go at earh- 
anorn, our regiment supporting the skirmish line with 
balance of brigade closely in our rear. It was about 9 
o'clock when we halted on an elevated position. I was 
ordered to see that the men had their canteens filled with 
water. I made a detail from each company. When I was 
asked by some what it meant I told them it looked as if 
we would have a little '' hell '' soon and they had better be 
prepared. Soon we heard the artillery coming up and 
getting into position, with two pieces in the road and 
another to our left. The firing had ceased on the skirmish 
line. We could see the Johnnies in large numbers behind 
their breastworks. But what did all this mean? We 
remembered the heavy fighting of the night before in Lee's 
rear until long after dark. What great anxiety spread 
through the ranks ! Was it to be General Lee's one, last, 
great struggle? We all felt tired and hungry, so many 
lay down to sleep, some to crack jokes, others to read 
their bibles, when by and by a flag of truce comes from 
the Johnnies' lines and with all possible speed goes back 
to Meade's headquarters. Soon this was followed by 
a four-mule stage coach, in which it was said was 
Commissioner Orr, of Lee's army, going back to our 
rear. It was impossible to imagine what was going on. 
Officers and men would ask each other, but all were in 
total ignorance. Some seemed to think they were trying 
to compromise without any more fighting, not thinking of 
an absolute surrender on the part of Lee. It was the 
opinion of many that before Lee would do so he w^ould 
make one grand rally and die at the head of his army 
which he had led forth in so many battles. In the midst 
of all these conjectures we heard cheering coming towards 
us and soon we saw that modest hero of Gettysburg, 
General George G. Meade, and staft' coming up on a gallop, 
passing through our lines and over into the enemy's 
strono^hold. Now for surmising I It has full swav. 
.Surrender or be annihilated, which will Lee do ? 



314 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

"We were now flushed with victory, having kept the 
Johnnies on the run from early morning till late at night. 
We had had nothing to eat but a little fresh meat, sassafras 
and sour grass, and what we lost in coffee, pork and hard 
tack was more than made up by the continual excitement 
and battles which had lasted for eleven days. We were 
unanimous in hoping that Lee's star was on the wane and 
that the war would soon be over. What great suspense 
now hung over us ! We talked of nothing but the return 
of our great leader, Meade. Soon an officer from Meade's 
staff came into our lines and galloped back to headquarters. 
Soon after the order was given to fall in. We marched to 
within one hundred yards of the rebels' breastworks, our 
regiment on the right. We halted when the command 
' Front ' was given. ' Two paces to the rear. March ! ' 
When the regiment was properly aligned another regiment 
was placed on the opposite side of the road in like manner, 
and so it continued until the entire corps or back to the 
rear had been reached. Standing at 'Attention', we 
' Order Arms '. Could it be that Lee was going to 
surrender ? Were the}- going to march him at the head of 
our vanquished foe through our lines that we might see 
the remnant of that once brave and fearless army which 
we had fought on so many disputed battlefields? But, no, 
all this ceremony was for the purpose of announcing to 
that wing of the army under General Meade the news of 
Lee's surrender. 

" It was about 4 o'clock in the afternoon when we 
heard the clatter of horses coming from within the 
Johnnies' lines. The order 'Attention, carry arms! ' was 
given and we awaited their approach. As General Meade, 
accompanied by his staff, stopped in front of our One 
Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volun- 
teers, no salute was given except the dipping of the colors. 
Taking his cap in his hand he bowed and announced to 
us : ' General Lee has surrendered to General Grant ! ^ 
Turning to the regiment on the opposite side of the road, 



FARMVILLE. 315 

he repeated the message, and so on. With his own lips he 
proclaimed to the army which he had led forth to victory 
the news of Lee's surrender. It now seemed as if by the 
hand of God life had been suspended for several minutes. 
Not a word was spoken, not a movement was made. 
Officers and men stood like regiments of statue-soldiers in 
the perfect silence. Then like an electric shock broke 
forth one grand shout and cheer after cheer rent the air. 
The Lynchburg Plank Road became one sw^aying mass of 
joyful Yankees. The delirious shouts were soon taken up 
by the Johnnies, and never before and never again W'ill the 
hills and valleys around Appomattox in old Virginia 
resound with such soul-inspiring shouts as came from the 
conquerers and the conquered as they blended their voices 
together on that afternoon of the 9th day of April, 1865. 

Thus ended the career of the glorious and heroic One 
Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volun- 
teers, which had marked the trail of the Army of the 
Potomac with the blood of its hundreds of killed and 
wounded, from Fredericksburg to Appomattox. With 
depleted ranks it had now reached the pinnacle of its glory. 
It was the first regiment to receive the official announce- 
ment from General Meade of Lee's surrender." 

Charley Barth, of Company C, writes about this cam- 
paign : 

'' Well do I remember the morning of the 28th of 
March, 1865, when we left our winter quarters for the final 
campaign of the war. Although this campaign was not 
so long as the one of the year before, \et what an amount 
of hunger and fatigue we passed through in those thirteen 
days. I shall never forget it. On the morning of the 29th 
our regiment was sent on the skirmish line. What a day 
this was, raining as w^e advanced through the w^oods, 
sometimes in water up to our knees. Then over brush 
and fallen trees, halting to re-form and then advancing 
again, arid so we went on until night came, when we halted 
in a swamp with the water up over our shoe tops. Here 



316 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

an amusing incident occurred which I think is worth 
mentioning-. The Fifty-second New York was right in 
our rear with the rest of the line of battle and for some 
cause they did not stoj^ with them but came on and would 
have passed had they not been stopped, as it was then so 
dark that one object could not be distinguished from the 
other. This made considerable confusion. If you re- 
member, the Fifty-second New York were nearly all 
Germans, and such a time as their officers had getting 
them all together again. Shouting : ' Dis way, fifty-two 
mans ! ' And they would come up to some of us and say : 
'Be you a fifty-two mans?' Finally, they got back to 
their line again. We remained on the skirmish line until 
the next day, the 30th, when we were relieved and went 
back to our brigade. The next day, the 31st, we fought 
the battle of Gravelly Run; and so we continued marching, 
fighting and skirmishing every day and night until the 
end came on the 9th. But what I started to write about 
was an incident that happened on the 8th. This will 
illustrate and confirm what I said in my letter to you that 
my thoughts were on how I should get enough to eat and 
enough sleep. We had been marching all day until about 
2 o'clock, when we stopped at a place called New Store. 
I was tired and hungry, as I had nothing in my haversack 
but a small piece of pork. At this place I was fortunate 
enough to get a little flour. Soon the bugle called forward, 
and then it was tramp, tramp again. Oh, how tired I was ! 
How I would look ahead to see if the head of the column 
would file to the right or left, which I knew would mean 
rest. Well, just as it was growing dark I saw the head of 
the column file to the left into the woods. Then came the 
vision of the nice cake I would make out of the flour and 
piece of pork, and what a nice sleep I would have. But 
how often our brightest hopes are blasted Scarceh' had 
we halted wdien we were ordered out as flankers with 
orders to make no fire. This meant to me no cake, no 
sleep. Finally, after the line was established, we concluded 



FARMVILLE. 317 

to make a fire and I began to bake my cake, and as the 
under side became hard I turned it over. A few minutes 
later we could hear firing in front of us. It was Sheridan 
who had blocked the way in front of the Johnnies. Just 
then the order came to fall in. Now the question was, 
what shall I do with my half-baked cake? I dumped it 
into my haversack. Then we went on to the road again 
for a four mile tramp. Well, as the cake cooled I ate it, 
although it was half dough. As I pulled it from my 
haversack it would stretch from there to my mouth, but it 
helped to fill me. That night the supply train came up, 
and the next morniug, that ever welcome day of the 9th, 
I had a feast on coffee, hard tack and pork, and I was 
contented and happy because my stomach was full. Could 
I have known then what this day was to still bring forth 
my enjoyment would have been much greater. It was then 
I felt proud that I had done some little towards the over- 
throw of the Rebellion." 

The surrender of the other armies of the Southern 
Confederacy followed rapidly upon that of General I^ee, 
and it only remained for the Union troops in Virginia to 
turn their faces toward the North and home and await the 
muster out and disbanding of the armies. So on April 
13th the last march began. Leisurely and without war's 
rude alarms, it was a joyful march, indeed. Reaching 
Farmville, the men were gladdened by the return of four 
officers who had been captives in Southern prisons for 
months and who had just been released. All had much to 
tell of the hardships endured. Captain Cosslett is still on 
earth as this book is being written and his story of prison 
life in the South is interesting. 



Reminiscence of Prison Life in the South 

By 

CHARLES COSSLETT, 

Brevet Major, United States Volunteers. 



REMINISCENCE OF PRISON LIFE IN THE SOUTH. 321 



T~\URING the campaign of 1864, when the army reached 
^-^ the fortifications before Petersburg, our regiment 
had lost by death, wounds and sickness a great many men; 
there were no field and but few line officers left for duty. 

On the morning of June 2 2d, being still quite lame in 
my right knee and thigh from rheumatism contracted in 
the trenches at Cold Harbor and suffering from a long and 
severe attack of diarrhoea. Dr. Hartman gave me a pass to 
go to the hospital. Whilst waiting for an ambulance 
Captain Nowlen, who was in command of the regiment, 
came to me and said we had orders to move and that we 
were likely to have another dust with the Johnnies. There 
was no officer in his company and as I was the only one in 
mine, which was on his left, he told me to take the two 
companies into the fight and when we came out I could go> 
to the hospital. I said to him : " I may not come out ; I 
maybe killed." "Charlie,'' replied he, in his off-hand, 
jocular way, " if you are killed you won't want to go to 
the hospital." Noble, generous, brave Nowlen ! That was 
our parting joke ; shortly after you gave your life for your 
God and country. 

When I went back to the regiment one of my men, 
Michael Cavanaugh, came to me with one hundred and 
fifty dollars which he wished me to send to his people, he 
having an idea he was going to be killed. I answered 
that my risk was as great as his and advised him to give 
the money to Father Ouellet, the Chaplain of the Sixty- 
ninth New York Regiment, which he did. 

Early in the morning of the 22d of June, Wilcox's 
Division of Hill's Corps moved from their quarters on the 



322 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

lines of Petersburg and, crossing the works to the right of 
the Tannahill House, followed the line of the Weldon 
Railroad. Wilcox's instructions were to find the Union 
column and drive it back to the Jerusalem Plank Road. 
About 9 A. M. his troops were beyond and to the right of 
the Johnston House. The leading brigades were halted 
and formed in line of battle, facing the Plank Road. 
General Mahone, who, from a small and unoccupied fort 
in advance of his line, had been watching the Federal 
troops marching into position, stacking arms and throwing 
up breastworks, quietly withdrew Wright's Virginia 
Brigade and Saunder's Georgia Brigade of his division out 
of the main works about 2 P. M., and filing through a deep 
ravine in the direction of the Johnston House, and thence 
into a field near a skirt of woods where he formed a line of 
battle, he at once advanced, struck the flank of the Union 
line, rolled it up and captured four guns, eight stands of 
colors and over seventeen hundred j^risoners. Before 
General Mahone commenced the movement he sent 
Captain Girardey over to General Wilcox to say he would 
attack the Union troops as soon as he could reach the head 
and flank of their column and that all he, Wilcox, had to 
do was to bear down towards Petersburg to effect a 
co-operation with Wright's and Saunder's Brigades in the 
proposed attack. Captain Girardey, on his way, met 
General Hill at the Davis House on the Weldon Railroad 
and to him communicated the message. General Hill 
replied that Wilcox would be informed at once of General 
Mahone's request. However, Captain Girardey, fearing a 
delay, immediately galloped over to Wilcox and told him 
that Mahone was ready to strike the Union line as soon as 
he, Wilcox, was prepared to co-operate with him. The 
Confederate advance on the Plank Road was instantly 
arrested and two brigades were ordered to move in the 
direction of Petersburg. At this time Wilcox was to the 
left and rear of the Union troops, but failed to join General 
Mahone until the fight was over. 



REMINISCENCE OF PRISON LIFE IN THE SOUTH. 323 

On that fatal day the Second Corps moved forward, 
pivoting its right on the left of the Fifth. The Sixth Corps, 
being on the left of the Second, was to move with it, but, 
having a greater distance to traverse in the wheeling 
movement, it could not keep up with the Second Corps, 
and therefore, General Meade ordered General Birney, who 
was that day in command of the Second Corps, to advance 
without waiting for the Sixth. When the Confederates 
struck the Union line the Second, or Irish, Brigade was on 
the left of the Second Corps and our regiment was on the 
left of the brigade. 

After passing through someW'Oods w^e halted at the top 
of a ravine. Four or five of the men took a number of 
canteens to fill at the rivulet, but in a few minutes came 
running back and said the Johnnies fired at them from the 
opposite side. The men who had been quietly resting quickly 
formed line. By this time the bullets were coming thick 
and fast and killed and wounded quite a number, amongst 
the latter Captain Yocum. Captain Nowden sent Lieu- 
tenant Cope and Sergeant-Major Burk to the left of the 
line to see if the enemy were flanking us. In a very short 
time they returned in hot haste and reported the Confed- 
erates marching in column of fours past our left. This 
was about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. 

Not long after, by General Barlow's orders, a brigade 
covered our flank, but it was soon on the run past the rear 
of our line. When the enemy found our left uncovered 
and the Sixth Corps far behind, they struck our flank and 
pushed with great vigor into our rear. The front line, 
finding itself exposed and likely to be captured, hastily 
fell back. Being lame I could not get along very fast and 
when I got out of the woods and walked over a field I 
came to a partly constructed breastw^ork. I crossed over 
this into another wood wnth dense brush so thick I could 
not see through it. 

Here I met about thirty men from different regiments. 
They were listening to the sound of voices which came 



324 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

from our rear but could not see anyone. Some thought 
they were our men who were talking, but others said they 
were Johnnies. However, no one seemed inclined to find 
out the real state of affairs. At last a young sergeant in a 
New York regiment volunteered to accompany me for the 
purpose of solving the problem. After pushing through 
the brush we reached an open space where we were sur- 
prised to see, not six paces from us, a line of battle. 
When we found they were Confederates our first thought 
was to run. x^bout a dozen rifles were pointed at us and 
the Johnnies told us to come in, saying: "It is no use 
trying to get away ; we have been going behind you fellers 
for two hours." 

We were sent under guard to the rear. On our way we 
saw one of our guns which they had captured and quite a 
number of our dead. In a narrow road at the edge of the 
woods lay a Union officer who had been shot in the thigh. 
We made a stretcher with a blanket and some rails and 
carried him to the Johnston House where the doctors were 
attending to a number of wounded men. On the way I 
saw a general who, I was told, was Mahone and that it was 
his command which captured us. 

A regiment going to the front passed us. Their salute 
was : " How are you, blue bellies? How do you like your 
new quarters?" etc. Just before dark we were taken to a 
clearing in the woods. In it were assembled sixteen 
hundred men and sixty-five officers. There I met Lieu- 
tenant Cope, Sergeant-Major Burk and a number of men 
of our regiment. Before we left this place a staff" officer 
rode in with some of our flags tied on his horse. 

After dark we were removed and camped on the side of 
a hill for the night. Lying on the cold ground, without 
any covering, I suffered severely from diarrhoea. In the 
morning John IVI. Wiley, one of my men, gave me a table- 
spoonful of black pepper mixed in water, after which 
palatable dose I was greatly relieved. Another of my 
men, Albert Nelson, handed over to me his gum blanket. 



REMINISCENCE OF PRISON LIFE IN THE SOUTH. 325 

He said the Johnnies were going to take from them their 
haversacks, canteens, etc., but he thought they would 
leave me in possession of the blanket. 

In the forenoon the enlisted men were separated from 
the officers and we were then taken to the cars and sent to 
Richmond. On our arrival, under a strong guard, we 
were marched through the streets to Libby Prison. When 
we passed into the commandant's office our names, rank, 
regiment and address were entered in their books. We 
were next thoroughly searched for money, and if any was 
found, it was very kindly placed to our credit. The 
officials promised to return it when we left the prison, but 
when we did leave, by some oversight on their part, we 
were obliged to go without it. They took from us every- 
thing in our possession, haversacks, canteens and blankets. 
One officer had a few hardtack in his haversack. Its con- 
tents were dumped on the floor, then there was a scramble 
for the pieces. I was fortunate enough to get a handful 
of crumbs, the first thing I had had to eat for two days. 

After this incident we were taken upstairs to the second 
floor and put in a large room in which were already about 
fifty officers. I took up my quarters under the window on 
Twentieth Street, nearest to Carey and directly over the 
office. The enlisted men were confined in six rooms in 
the centre and east of the building. At 9 o'clock every 
morning and at 4 in the afternoon we had roll-call. 
Prison Clerk Erastus W. Ross, or "Little Ross ", as he 
was designated because of his small stature, accompanied 
by a guard under the command of Sergeant George 
Stansil, of the Eighteenth Georgia Regiment, would come 
up and count us off, fearing some would be missing. 

Every day at 11 a. m. rations were brought up. Stal- 
wart negroes carried in two tubs, made of a barrel cut in 
two, with rope handles, full of what the Confederates 
called pea soup. It was a composition of horse beans with 
a piece of some kind of meat boiled in water. No one. 
knew whether the meat was cow, pig or horse flesh 



326 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

Hvery man received three-quarters of a pint of soup, some 
beans, a piece of meat about the size of two fingers and 
three-fourths of a pound loaf of coarse corn bread without 
any salt in it, and these were all the rations we were given 
in twenty-four hours. Some of the men would eat their 
allowance all at once and then lie on the floor until ii 
o'clock next day, not daring to walk about, fearing it 
would increase their hunger. 

I divided my portion and enjoyed three short meals 
daily. We formed squads of twenty, and any man who 
was fortunate enough to possess a tin cup would drink his 
soup and then lend the cup to another. It was amusing 
to hear some of the prisoners talking about what good 
things they would like to eat, and if they were only at 
Delmonico's or some first-class restaurant they would 
order a dinner fit for a " city councilman ". 

The third day we were at Libby Adjutant Latouche 
sent up one old army blanket for each man, which answered 
for both bed and bedding and was the only donation we 
received during our long confinement. On that day came 
an exchange for some doctors who lay in the corner next 
to me. After they left prison early the next morning I 
found an old tin cup which it seems they had promised to 
a cavalry officer. About an hour afterw^ards he came 
around hunting for the cup. Of course, he could not find 
it, but he swore rather loudly and said if he knew the man 
that took it he would wring his neck. However, I was 
not foolish enough to tell him. 

On the floor I found a piece of old canvas. I borrowed 
a thread and needle from one of the prisoners and made of 
it a very good haversack, and with that and the tin cup I 
set up housekeeping. The same evening an officer gave 
Lieutenant Cope some tea. The latter with his knife cut 
a few chips from the rafters and built a fire on the floor, 
and in my cup we made our first tea, which, though having 
neither sugar nor milk, tasted so good that we boiled the 
leaves three times over. 



REMINISCENCE OF PRISON LIFE IN THE SOUTH. 327 

The only furniture in the room was a long, pine-board 
table. In the southwest corner were two old bath tubs 
and a good supply of water. The windows were without 
glass, but instead had heavy iron bars. Shortly before I 
went to Libby Captain Forsyth, of the One Hundredth 
Ohio Volunteers, was shot dead by a sentinel while stand- 
ing at one of the windows, the guards having instructions 
to shoot any one putting his hands on sill or bar. 

Libby Prison was a large, three-story brick building, 
divided by heavy walls into three sections. It stood on a 
hill which descended to a street by the side of the canal. 
The building contained nine large rooms, each 105 x 45 
feet. The slant of the hill gave an additional story on the 
south or Dock Street side. The prison fronted on Carey 
Street and was bounded on the west by Twentieth and on 
the east by a vacant lot. The west room on the first floor 
was the commandant's office and it was also used as sleep- 
ing quarters for the prison officials. The centre room was 
the kitchen and the east one served as a hospital. On the 
second floor the west room was called " Milroy's Room "; 
the middle one was named " I^ower Chickamauga Room ", 
for there were a large number of Chickamauga prisoners 
in it; the east room was known as " Lower Gettysburg 
Room". The west room on the third floor was called 
"Streight's Room"; the centre room, "Upper Chickamauga 
Room", and the east room, "Upper Gettysburg Room". 
The basement on Dock Street was divided into west cellar, 
middle cellar, or carpenter's shop, and the east cellar, 
generally called "Rat Hell ". 

Libby Prison was built in 1852 by John Enders, a 
Scotsman. He was a prominent tobacco manufacturer, 
and Libby was one of the several large warehouses he had 
constructed in Richmond. In 1854 he leased the building 
to Luther Libby, who used it in the ship chandlery and 
commission business. On the northwest corner hung a 
sign which read: " Libby and Son, Ship Chandlers and 
Grocers ". The son, George W. Libby, was admitted as a 



328 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

partner in i860 and served in the Confederate Army dnring 
the war. 

The first Union prisoners arrived in Richmond Jnly 
23d, 186 1, followed in a few days by others captured at 
Bull Run. The first building used as a military prison 
was a tobacco factory on Main Street, between Twenty- 
fifth and Twenty-sixth Streets. General John H. Winder, 
who was in command at Richmond, finding it impossible 
to accommodate all the prisoners in the Liggon Building, 
took possession of Libby and Son's warehouse. The first 
commandant of this prison was the notorious Henry Wirz, 
who was not long in charge before being sent to Anderson- 
ville, where his cruelty to the unfortunate captives caused 
him to be hanged after the war. He was succeeded by 
Major T. P. Turner, who, when the war was over, prac- 
ticed dentistry in Memphis, Tenn. 

In October, 1861, Lieutenant Thomas P. Turner, 
generally called " Dick " Turner, was promoted to the 
rank of captain and ordered to report for duty at Libby, 
(He was no relative of Major Thomas P. Turner.) After 
the war he had a saw mill in Isle of Wight County, Va. 
Chief Clerk Ross was burned to death in the Spotswood 
House, Richmond, Va., in 1873. Adjutant John Latouche 
died in Richmond, October 4th, 1890, aged 70. 

Nearly sixty thousand prisoners were confined in Libb}^ 
during the war. On the night of February Qtli, 1864, 
one hundred and nine officers, including eleven colonels, 
seven majors, thirty-two captains and fifty-nine lieutenants, 
made their escape through the tunnel. Forty-eight of 
them were recaptured. Colonel Streight and several 
officers were concealed for a week by Miss Bettie Vanlew, 
a Union sympathizer. She was afterwards appointed post- 
mistress of Richmond by President Grant. Captain Gates, 
of the Thirty-third Ohio, was the only one recaptured 
inside the city limits. 

For several days after the escape great numbers of 
citizens wandered around Libby. One of them happened 



REMINISCENCE OF PRISON LIFE IN THE SOUTH. 329 

to remove a plank in the yard back of the office of the 
James River Towing Company and the secret was revealed. 
A dog was dropped into the hole and he made his way to 
" Rat Hell ". 

After the evacuation of Richmond the Union troops 
were placed on guard through the city. Samuel E. James, 
a private in Colonel Brady's Regiment, the Two Hundred 
and Sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers, claimed to have taken 
the kev of Libby Prison from a colored man who had 
attempted to make off" with it. James ran after the negro 
and took it from him. It was an iron key about six 
inches long with a flange about an inch wide. James 
lived for a time in Kittaning, Armstrong County, Pa. 

x\ll the old prisoners were removed from Richmond 
early in May, 1864, and those who were captured during 
May and June were taken to Libby. x\bout the first of 
July orders came to send all officers to Macon and the 
enlisted men to Andersonville. Early one morning we 
were taken from Libby, marched over to Manchester, on 
the south side of the river, put on board passenger cars 
and began our journey. At some of the stations where 
we stopped for wood and water several officers lost their 
head gear by a little Southern strategy. After the train 
started some Johnnies would create an excitement on 
the platform. Our men would naturally look out to see 
what was the matter, and if a good hat was seen on any of 
them some enterprising Confederate would snatch it off 
and very politely throw back his old one with many 
compliments. 

Our first landing place was Lynchburg, where we were 
put in a field near the river. The Johnnies had captured 
one of our supply trains and for rations gave us our own 
genuine hardtack and good, fat Yankee pork, which was a 
great treat. 

Our guard at this place was composed of about seventy 
men who had belonged to an Irish regiment in Stonewall 
Jackson's Brigade. They told us their regiment had been 



330 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

SO reduced in numbers that they were taken from the front 
and put on guard duty. 

When we left Lynchburg we were started on a four 
days' tramp to Danville. General Averill with his cavalry 
had torn up part of the railroad, so we had to foot it all 
the way. We marched in column of fours, officers on the 
right, and had two regiments of home guards to look after 
our welfare. At some places along the road the women 
would bring us out buckets of cool spring water and often: 
a corn cake, which was very acceptable. 

On the second night of our journey we camped on the 
border of a small stream. Having obtained permission 
from the guards to take a bath, some of the men indulged 
in the unusual luxury of a swim. Meanwhile, I found a 
one dollar Federal note, which proved its great value early 
next morning when a young Johnny came into camp with 
a basket of onions. In exchange for my one dollar he- 
offered me four dollars in Confederate money or three large 
onions. I chose the latter, knowing that if I ate them 
they would agree with me and not being quite sure that I 
could digest the dirty, ragged Confederate scrip. 

Sunday, July 3d, as we passed a church on the roadside,, 
the congregation came out and some of the women wept 
bitterly when they saw our miserable condition. A 
woman's heart will always bleed for suffering humanity.. 

" Honored be womau ! She beams on the sight, 
Graceful and fair, like a being of light ; 
Scatters around her wherever she strays 
Roses of bliss on our thorn-covered ways : 
Roses of Paradise, sent from above, 
To be gathered and twined in a garland of love ! " 

At Danville we were quartered in a large warehouse at 
the east side of the town, with Major Moffart in charge. 
We there drew a day's rations — half a loaf of corn bread, 
a quarter of a pound of bacon and a pint of soup. We- 



REMINISCENCE OF PRISON LIFE IX THE SOUTH. 331 

were told not to go near the windows, for the guards had 
orders to shoot us if we did. 

Next morning we were loaded into cattle cars. Four 
sentinels were placed at the doors inside and six or eight 
on the top of each car to guard the fifty men which it 
contained. We stopped at Greensborough for a short 
time, then started for Charlotte, where we arrived the 
subsequent evening. Our next halt was at Columbia, 
where we got some corn bread and bacon, and were then 
taken to Augusta. The home guard under command of 
Provost-Marshal Bradford, a son of Governor Bradford, of 
Maryland, had charge of us at that place. Early next 
morning we were sent to Macon, which city we reached 
the following afternoon. 

We were received by Dick Turner, who had been sent 
on from Libby, and a regiment of Georgia militia and 
marched into Camp Oglethorpe. (The camp was named 
for the Governor of Georgia.) It was about a quarter of 
a mile east of the city. Some three acres were enclosed 
by a stockade fence sixteen feet high. On the outside of 
the fence, four feet from the top, was a platform on which 
the guards were stationed and from which they had a good 
view over the camp. Inside the stockade and about twenty 
feet from it was a picket fence four feet high called the 
"dead line". No one was allowed to go over or touch 
this line. 

The morning we entered the camp our first salute from 
the old prisoners was cries of "Fresh fish", "Give him 
air ", " Don't take his tooth-pick ", " Close up", etc. Near 
the gate stood Captain George Halpin, who was captured 
before me. He called out : " Is there any one from 
the One Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania?" When 
I answered " Yes ", he took my hand and put his arms 
around me and said he was glad and yet sorry to see any 
one from the old regiment. He led me to his quarters and 
gave me a portion of his dinner, which consisted of a piece 
of corn bread and a cup of coffee made of burnt meal scalded 



332 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

with water, and he regretted very much that he could not 
entertain me better ; but I was exceedingly thankful to 
have my hunger thus far appeased. 

A few days after I entered the prison pen I accidentally 
put my hand on the dead line, when some officers called 
out : " Take your hand away, take your hand away ! " 
which I quickly did, as the sentinel had his rifle already 
aimed at me. On the evening of the nth of June Lieu- 
tenant Otto Grierson, Forty-fifth New York Volunteers, 
while near the spring was shot and niortalh' wounded b}' a 
guard, although at the time he was some distance from the 
line. 

There were twelve hundred prisoners in the pen when 
we went there. In the centre of the camp was a large 
wooden warehouse, which had been used as a hospital for 
Confederate soldiers, but as man}- of our officers as could 
get in made it their sleeping quarters. Early one morning 
I went into the building, and, seated on the floor were a 
great number of them with their shirts off, performing a 
very necessary act before making their morning toilet, as 
the building was swarming with vermin. In those days 
there was an open market in all Southern prisons for the 
vender of insect powder. 

To the prisoners who were in the stockade previous to 
our arrival the authorities had given lumber with which 
they built open sheds for themselves and fixed up bunks, 
and it was in one of these that Captain Halpin and Lieu- 
tenant John McGovern, of the Seventy-third Pennsylvania 
Volunteers, had their quarters. When our squad of one 
hundred and twenty arrived there was no room in the sheds 
for us, so we had to bunk outside. I took up my quarters 
near the spring, which was situated about thirty feet from 
the dead line. 

Our contingent was divided into squads of twenty, each 
squad being furnished with a camp kettle and an iron 
skillet. We formed messes of five and arranged to have 
the cookino- utensils turn about. Rations were drawn 



REMINISCENCE OF PRISON LIFE IN THE SOUTH. 333 

every five days, our daily allowance being one pint of corn 
meal, one ounce of rice and a q^uarter of a pound of fat 
bacon. Sometimes in place of rice we received beans. 
Every ten days they gave us a tablespoonful of salt, every 
three weeks two ounces of soft soap with which to wash 
our ragged clothes, and each morning the authorities sent 
in a wagon load of fire-wood for cooking purposes. The 
second week I was there Captain Halpin fell insensible in 
the yard and was carried to the hospital. I did not see 
him again for two months. During the first six months of 
prison life we were called "fresh fish"; the next four 
months, "suckers"; the next two months, " dry cod " ; 
after that, " dried herring", and after exchange, "pickled 
sardines ". 

When General Johnston was retreating towards Atlanta 
before the victorious army of Sherman, Governor Brown, 
of Georgia, ordered every man capable of bearing arms to 
the front, and transferred the State militia, under the 
command of Major-General G.W. Smith, to the Confederate 
service to defend the bridges across the Chattahoochee 
River for the safety of the important city of i\tlanta. 
From an elevation in the prison yard we could see regi- 
ments of boys, some of them not fifteen years of age, 
marching past. They looked full of fight and quite proud 
of being soldiers. 

A great many of the prisoners were afflicted with 
"chronic diarrhoea" and about four hundred had "scurvy". 
Those with the latter disease would put earth on their 
sores to check its ravages. Another beneficial remedy was 
to eat raw potatoes steeped in vinegar. These luxuries 
the negroes would sometimes bring into the prison. Grow- 
ing inside the stockade were two old white oak trees, the 
bark of which was stripped off and chewed by some of the 
men, while others boiled it and drank the water as a cure 
for diarrhoea. 

One day the Confederate sutler brought in provisions 
in a large box. When it was emptied Lieutenant Wilson, 



334 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

Fifth United States Cavalry, got into it. The negroes, 
wishing to aid his escape, fastened the lid temporarily on 
the box, which was placed on the wagon and driven out of 
the prison pen. After going some distance away the 
negroes removed the precious load from the wagon, took 
off the lid and the lieutenant made his way to a negro hut. 
While washing and making his toilet the patrol came up 
and asked him if he was a Union prisoner. Rather than 
tell a lie he acknowledged that he was, and, as a result, 
was brought back the same day to the pen. I thought 
that under the circumstances, when he had a chance of 
making his escape, he deserved great praise for telling the 
truth, which proved that he did not forget the good advice 
of a noble mother. 

For amusement those who were strong enough would 
play base ball ; others would spend their time with 
checkers, chess and dominoes ; but a pack of cards, the 
soldier's prayer book, was always in demand. Crib, faro 
and poker were the favorite games. Very often Captain 
Irsch, a German, of the Forty-fifth New York Regiment, 
and Captain Rompe, a Swiss, would entertain us with the 
sword exercise performed with wooden foils which they 
made for the purpose. The Swiss officer, whose real name 
was known to few, was generally called Rompe, a French 
word which he frequently used while fencing. 

July 27th Captain Gibbs, commandant of the prison, 
received orders to count out six hundred prisoners to be 
sent to Charleston, as the Confederates, knowing that 
Sherman was on his way to Atlanta, feared a raid of Union 
troops to release the prisoners. Some of our men were in 
hopes of exchange, but they soon found they were to be 
confined in Charleston to protect that city from the fire of 
our guns on Morris Island. We were told we would not 
be allowed to take the cooking utensils with us. The 
guard at the dead line would not permit Lieutenant 
McGovern to take even a skillet with him, so he handed 
it over to me. Next evenino- the second six hundred were 



REMINISCENCE OF PRISON LIFE IN THE vSOUTH. 335 

called out to go to Savannah. I tied up the skillet in my 
old blanket, put it under my arin and, when my name was 
called, stepped over the line. We were guarded by the 
Fifth Georgia Regiment, marched to where the box cars 
were and remained there during the night. We knew by 
the hurried movement of troops and placing of artillery 
in position there was some trouble brewing for the 
Confederac3^ 

At break of day we left Macon and reached Savannah 
about 5 P. M. The guards told us that General Stoneman 
with his cavalry cut the road at one station half an hour 
after we passed it. Stoneman attacked Macon, was 
repulsed and taken prisoner with part of his command, 
July 31st, at Clinton, about six miles north of the city. 
At the time he was on a raid to release the Union prisoners 
in Macon and Andersonville. 

Our prison in Savannah was a lot adjoining the Marine 
Hospital and surrounded by a stockade fence. It was 
called " Camp Davidson ", for its first commandant. The 
city authorities who had charge of us were very kind and 
did all they could for our comfort. They gave us tents 
and boards to make bunks, also cooking utensils and bricks 
to build ovens in which to bake our corn bread. We built 
the ovens oval on top and stuck the bricks together with 
mortar made of clay. The bread v/e made by stirring corn 
meal in water and baking in the skillets. 

Colonel ]\Iiller, One Hundred and Forty-seventh New 
York Volunteers, acted in the prison as commandant. 
Through him all our requests were made known to Captain 
Davidson, Our guards, the First Georgia, a number of 
whom had been prisoners of war, thought we deserved 
good treatment, as they had received it at the North. ■ 

Our tents were pitched in regular military order and 
the streets were swept every day. For our rations we were 
given each morning half a pound of meat, a pint of rice, 
half a pint of meal, and every four days a tablespoonful 



336 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

of salt. The water we used came from a well near 
the hospital fence. It was clear and cold but so 
offensive to both taste and smell that some of the 
prisoners told the authorities they would like it cleaned 
out, for they were sure there was a dead dog or nigger in 
it. Next day a detail came in and gave it a thorough 
cleaning, but only a few leaves and twigs were found in it, 
and not till then did we know it was a very strong sulphur 
spring. A few days after a long wooden trough was made 
and a supply of city water turned on. Fires were kept 
burning all night inside the pen, so that the sentinels 
could see all our movements. 

In the tent in rear of mine a cavalry officer dug a well 
about six feet deep, from the bottom of which he started 
a tunnel about two feet six inches in diameter. It was 
carried under the stockade with the intention of running 
it beyond what was thought to be a second line of sentinels. 
The work was completed on the morning of iVugust 22d, 
and on the afternoon of the same day a cow, walking over 
the tunnel, broke through. The guards saw her flounder- 
ing in the hole and with great difficulty released her. A 
detail was sent at once into the pen to locate the tent and 
fill up the hole. The officer was taken to the Confederate 
headquarters and sentenced to severe punishment, but 
came back next day in good condition. 

August 26th, the ladies of Savannah gave a picnic to 
the Confederate soldiers stationed in the city and we could 
hear their voices and the music distinctl)-. On the same 
day. Captain W. McGinn is. Seventy-fourth Illinois Volun- 
teers, died. Our officers asked permission from the new 
Confederate commandant of the camp, Colonel Wayne, to 
give the Captain a decent burial, but he positively refused. 
In the evening, we received a note from the ladies in the 
city stating that, with profound sorrow, they had heard of 
Colonel Wayne's answer to our request and that they would 
purchase a burial lot where, under their care and direction, 
the Captain's remains would be properly interred. 



REMINISCENCE OF PRISON LIFE IN THE SOUTH. 337 

Early one morning a chicken flew into the pen and, for 
a while, there was a lively time, as about fifty men were 
after it. Finally, Lieutenant Allen caught it, and with 
some rice we made our first and last pot of chicken broth. 

Being very weak from a long attack of diarrhoea, I 
went to the doctor for some medicine. He gave me three 
pills and told me to keep quiet, adding that our people 
had the coast blockaded, the physicians in the South could 
obtain no drugs and that was all he could do for me. 
With few exceptions, the Confederate doctors were humane 
and kind and, with the means at their disposal, did all they 
could for our comfort and relief. 

August 30th, an exchange came for all chaplains and 
doctors ; they were sent in the evening to Charleston to be 
taken north on the flag-of-truce boat. 

On the afternoon of September nth, the order came 
for the rest of the prisoners to " pack up". My outfit 
consisted of a ragged coat and pants, a worn-out hat and 
an old blanket. Having neither shoes nor shirt, but in 
possession of my tin cup and skillet, it did not take long 
to get ready to move. We sat up all night making snap- 
jacks and corn bread to last us on our journey. At 6 
o'clock on the morning of September 12th, under guard of 
the Second Georgia Regiment, we were marched out of 
camp and turned over to a regiment of state militia. We 
remained for several hours in the streets before we took 
passage in the cattle cars. W^e knew then we were to be 
taken to Charleston and placed under the fire of our guns. 
When we stopped at a station on our way for wood and 
water, one of our men asked leave from a guard to step 
out of the car for a few minutes ; another guard saw him 
and, thinking he was trying to escape, shot at him ; 
fortunately he got back without a Southern keepsake. 

We reached Charleston in about ten hours and the 
citizens, white and black, turned out in force to look at 
the " Northern Blue Bellies". Under a strong escort we 
were marched through the streets to the jail, which was 



338 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

situated in the southeastern part of the cit}' — it could be 
seen from Morris Island, where our batteries were. The 
jail was a large octagonal building, four stories, with a 
tower forty-five feet high. The yard was surrounded by a 
strong wall, and on the outside was the platform for the 
sentinels to walk on. The water we had to use was 
brackish and came from a covered well in the centre of the 
yard. Not far from it, on the south side, stood the gallows, 
a pleasant reminder of what might be our last hitching-j^ost. 

Outside and near the prison wall were two large build- 
ings, the Roper Hospital and the Work House. Both 
being full of prisoners, we could not be admitted and were 
put into the jail yard, the latter, having been occupied 
by convicts and prisoners for some time, was in a very 
filthy condition, — the ground having a moving crop of 
vermin. Near the south wall stood a few old tents which 
were of no use for shelter, the prisoners who had been 
there before us having cut out and carried away large 
pieces of the canvas to make shirts and other wearing 
apparel of which they were sadly in need. 

Lieutenant J. Ogden, First Wisconsin Cavalry, com- 
posed the following verses while confined in the Roper 
Hospital : 

Oh, thou doomed city of the evil seed, 
Long nursed by baneful passion's heated breath ! 

Now bursts the germ, and lo, the evil deed 
Invites the sword of war, the stroke of death ! 

Suns smile on thee, and yet thou smilest not 

Thy fame, thy fashion, are alike forgot. 
Consumption festers in thy inmost heart ; 
The shirt of Nessus fouls thy secret part 

Lo, in thy streets — thy boast in other days — 
Grim silence sits, and rancorous weeds arise ! 

No joyous mirth, nor hymns of grateful praise. 
Greet human ears nor court the upper skies ; 

But deadly pallor, and a fearful looking for 

The hand of vengeance and the sword of war. 
Thy prayer is answered, and around, above. 
The wrath of God and man doth hourlv move. 



REMINISCENCE OF PRISON LIFE IN THE SOUTH. 339 

Thy foes are in thy heart, and lie unseen ; 
They drink thy life-blood and thy substance up ; 

And though in pride thou usest to sit a queen 
Justice at last commands the bitter cup. 

The blood of slaves upon thy skirts is found ; 

Their tears have soaked this sacrilegious ground. 
The chains that manacled their ebon arms 
Now clank about thine own in dread alarms. 

Thy sanctuaries are forsaken now ; 
Dark mould and moss cling to thy fretted towers; 

Deep rents and seams, where stragghng lichens grow 
And no sweet voice of prayer at vestal hours ; 

But voice of screaming shot and bursting shell, 

Thy deep damnation and thy doom foretell. 
The fire has left a swamp of broken walls, 
Where night-hags revel in thy ruined halls. 

Oh, vain thy boast, proud city desolate ! 
Thy curses rest upon thy guilty head ! 

In folly's madness, thou didst desecrate 
Thy sacred vows to holy Union wed. 

And now behold the fruit of this, thy sin : 
Thy courts without o'errun, defiled within ; 

Gross darkness broods upon thy holy place ; 

Forsaken all, thy pride in deep disgrace. 

Wail, city of the proud palmetto-tree ! 
Thy figs and vines shall bloom for thee no more ! 

Thou scorn'dst the hand of God, that made thee free, 
In driving freemen from their native shore. 

Thy rivers still seek peacefully the sea, 
Yet bear no wealth on them, no joy for thee. 

Thy isles look out and bask beneath the sun, 

But silence reigns— their Sabbath is begun ! 

Blood ! Blood is on thy skirts, oh, city doomed ! 
The crv of vengeance hath begirt thee round ; 

Here, where the citron and the orange bloomed, 
God's curse rests on the half-forsaken ground ! 

Thy treason, passion-nursed, is overgrown — 

Thy cup of wrath is full, is overflown. 

Repent, for God can yet a remnant save, 

But traitors and their deeds shall find the grave ! 

Ch.\rleston, S. C, September 25, 1864. 



340 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

September 20th, about noon, a terrible thunder-storm 
came on and it rained incessantly all day and night. There 
were two inches of water over the yard and we could not 
get the fires to burn. Wet, cold and without shelter, we 
made application to get into the jail, but did not succeed, 
as at that time it was full of prisoners of various grades. 
On the first floor were the civil convicts ; the second story 
was occupied by Confederate officers and soldiers under 
punishment for military offences ; the third story, by negro 
prisoners ; and the fourth, by deserters from both the Con- 
federate and Union Armies. In the yard were a number 
of negro prisoners who had been captured at the assault 
on Fort Wagner. As they received for rations nothing 
but corn meal, it was said they suffered so much from 
hunger that they would catch the rats, skin, roast and 
eat them. 

September 22d was very warm and our boys on Morris 
Island made it hotter for the enemy, for during that day 
and night, about one hundred shot and shells were thrown 
into the city. We would watch "Foster's Messengers", 
as we called them, screeching over our heads and hear 
them crash into the houses ; then followed the rumbling 
of the engines and the shouts of the firemen on their way 
to extinguish the flames. 

About noon, on September 24, we were startled by the 
sound of a musket shot. On running to the jail door, we 
found that a sentinel had killed a negro boy, a prisoner, 
who had run into the main corridor. The guard ordered 
him to return, but the boy, not retreating quickly enough, 
was shot and died instantly. 

In the evenings, the negro prisoners would entertain us 
by singing songs. The one which they seemed to like 
best was composed by Sergeant Johnson (colored) of 
Company -F, Fifty-fifth Massachusetts Infantry. The 
song was as follows : 



REMINISCENCE OF PRISON LIFE IN THE SOUTH. 341 

When I enlisted in the army, 

Then I thought 'twas grand, 
Marching through the streets of Boston 

Behind a regimental baud. 
When at Wagner I was captured, 

Then my courage failed ; 
Now I'm lousy, hungry, naked, 

Here in Charleston jail. 

Chorus. — Weeping, sad and lonely — 
Oh ! How bad I feel ; 

Down in Charleston, South Carolina, 
Praying for a good " square meal ". 

If JefF. Davis will release me. 

Oh, how glad I'll be ; 
When I get on Morris Island 

Then I shall be free ; 
Then I'll tell those conscript soldiers 

How they use us here ; 
Giving us an old " corn-dodger" — 

They call it prisoner's fare. 

We are longing, watching, praying, 

But will not repine 
Till Jeff. Davis does release us. 

And sends us " iu our lines". 
Then with words of kind affection, 

How they'll greet us there ! 
Wondering how we could live so long 

Upon the "dodgers fare". 

Chorus. — Then we will laugh long and loudly — 
Oh, how glad we'll feel, 
When we arrive on Morris Island 
And eat a good " square meal ". 

September 30th a great many shells were thrown into 
the city. A piece of one strnck the west end of the Roper 
Hospital, and another piece dropped into the jail yard 
near where I was standing. I picked it up and brought it 
home with me when paroled, as a fond remembrance of 
prison life. The guards told us that a shell killed the 
Provost-Marshal whilst standing at a table in his oflfice 
issuing orders to his Lieutenant, who was also killed. A 
few nights after, an Irishman and his wife, whilst sleep- 
ing, met their death in the same manner. 



342 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

As the Union officers were taken to Charleston to save 
the city from the fire of onr guns on Morris Island, 
General Foster, in retaliation, placed an equal number of 
Confederate officers on transports in front of his works to 
prevent the enemy from firing on him. Foster's gunners 
knew our whereabouts and took good care not to plant a 
shell amongst us. 

On October 2d, the Confederate Captain commanding 
the prison and his adjutant died of yellow fever. Many 
of the guards, some of our officers and a large number of 
enlisted men, brought from Andersonville, also died of the 
disease. The Sisters of Charity were allowed to enter the 
jail yard and hospitals to visit our sick soldiers. I have 
seen them bend over and speak words of hope and comfort 
to our fever-stricken boys, and give with loving hearts and 
kind hands grapes, wine or any .little delicacy they could 
obtain. All over the South they ministered to the wants 
of both Confederate and Union soldiers and, without any 
hope of reward, risked health and life in those loathsome, 
fever-stricken hospitals. 

"Where the fateful war cry sounded, 

Echoing through valleys fair, 
From each verdured mount resounded. 

Rousing hearts to do and dare ; 
There her noble mission leads her 

Where relentless Death is near, 
But the wounded soldier needs her 

And her brave heart knows no fear. 

Like a radiant sunbeam straying 

Through the ward where sufferers lie. 
Her soft touch the pain allaying, 

Her sweet smile forbids the sigh. 
When the soldier feels Death near him. 

Naught of dread appalls his soul 
With her gentle voice to cheer him 

Onward to the Heavenly goal. 

Then ! behold her, where privation 

Frets the spirit of the brave, 
Where the fever and starvation 



REMINISCENCE OF PRISON LIFE IN THE SOUTH. 343 

Lead from prison bars to grave ; 
Breathing words of pity tender, 

Soothing oft the throbbing brow, 
Still no selfish fears attend her 

For the captive needs her now. 

How she casts a glow about her, 

Gladd'ning all o'er-freighted hearts I 
'Twould be wondrous dark without her. 

While her spotless soul imparts 
To her face such noble beauty, 

That the soldier grows more brave, 
Fearless treads the path of duty — 

Seeking but the Flag to save I 

Truly, soldiers, may you love her 

For the deeds performed so well ; 
No one knows but Him above her 

In her task what hardships dwell. 
Weave your tender est thanks around her 

For her help in bitter need, 
True and tried, you've ever found her. 

Through the strife a friend indeed I" 

— GEORGHfA St. Clair Gartland. 

October 3d and 4th, our batteries gave the city a good 
shelling. Some of the missiles exploded very near the 
jail, but without injury to us. On the evening of the 
4th we heard from Charleston Race Course, where a 
number of our enlisted men were confined, a great many 
of whom were dving; from the ravages of scur\-v and 
yellow fever. 

Early on the morning of the 5th the Confederate au- 
thorities told us to pack up, saying we were to be removed 
for fear the yellow fever would carr\- more of us off. 
Captain Mobly, of the Thirty-second Georgia Regiment, 
informed us that we were to go to Columbia. 

At 9 A. M. we were taken out of the yard, marched 
through the streets, escorted by the Thirty-second Georgia 
Regiment, packed into cattle cars and started on another 
trip and, the rolling stock being nearly worn out, we only 
made about fifteen miles an hour. Some of the prisoners 



344 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

cut holes in the bottom of the cars and at night, when we 
came to a stop, would drop out, crawl from under the cars 
into the brush and make their escape. An officer, in going 
through one of these holes, was shot in the leg, which had 
to be amputated. Another plan to escape was to slip the 
cap from the gun when the guard was not looking, put a 
splint in the cone, jump out of the door and make for the 
woods. During the trip, about a dozen prisoners made 
their escape in this way. 

We arrived at Columbia in the midst of a rain storm 
and camped all night in a field on the north side of Bridge 
Street. We suffered greatly, the ground being flooded 
with water, while our only covering was the old blankets 
we had brought from Libby. We were closely guarded 
by two regiments of infantry and had four pieces of 
artillery trained on us. Next morning the Confederate 
authorities offered us our parole, but not to go beyond a 
specified range. Under these conditions, we would not 
accept it, for it would release two regiments of guards 
who would be sent to the front. 

That afternoon, a German baker brought a wagon-load 
of bread into the camp. Men who had money bought a 
few loaves and thus engaged the attention of the baker, 
while other less fortunate prisoners took possession of the 
wagon and, before the guards came up, every loaf was gone. 

Later, on the same day. Lieutenant H. L. Clark, Second 
Massachusetts Artillery, approached the fence to receive 
some bread from a citizen, when a sentinel stabbed him 
in the back with a bayonet. Though seriously wounded, 
the Lieutenant recovered. 

On the opposite side of Bridge Street, near the railroad 
station, was a large warehouse filled with hams and bacon. 
Lieutenant Cooper and I tried to hook some through the 
barred windows with a piece of fence-rail but without 
success, as one of the guards caught us at our honest 
employment and, at the point of his bayonet, diove us 
back into camp. 



REMINISCENCE OF PRISON LIFE IN THE SOUTH. 345 

In the evening, after receiving a ration of corn meal 
and sorghum molasses, we were marched over the bridge 
to the south side of the Congaree River. Our new camp 
was in an open field two miles from the city. The water 
supply was a small creek at the lower side of the field ; 
our couch was the cold, damp earth ; our covering, the 
blue sky above. 

A dead line, made of stakes, was established about 
thirty feet inside of where the sentinels walked. We were 
guarded by two regiments of infantry and a battery of 
artillery, and called our new quarters " Camp Sorghum ". 

October 8th we received from the sanitary commission 
boxes of clothing and drew lots for the various articles. 
Some of the prisoners got undershirts ; some, socks ; 
others, drawers, etc. I was very lucky, for I drew a 
woman's cotton morning gown, which, by wonderful tact 
and mechanical ability, I made into a spring overcoat. 

A box of clothing was sent to me from home, but I 
never got it. Both gold and notes were sent by mail, but 
not a dollar did I receive. One day the Confederate 
adjutant handed me a letter that had contained money and 
said it was open when they received it from the flag of 
truce boat. However, no money was in it when delivered 
to me. 

There were about fifteen hundred prisoners in camp at 
this time, and, as the presidential election was soon to take 
place, it was proposed to have one in the pen on October 
i6th. The votes were taken by the senior officer of each 
State and sent to a general officer. We wrote our ballots 
and deposited them in a meal bag. We also had a telegraph 
office and bulletin board and published sham returns every 
hour. In the evening when the returns were all in and 
the count was finished, the result was one hundred and 
forty-three votes for McClellan and ten hundred and 
twenty-four for Lincoln. 

Every five days we drew rations — half a pint of rice, 
one pint of sorghum molasses and five pints of meal, and 



346 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

every two weeks, half a pint of vinegar and a tablespoonful 
of salt. Some men would eat their share in three days 
and go begging for the other two. We were never given 
any vegetables and, for nearly five months, not a particle 
of meat. ^ 

A sutler's shop was started by three or four of our 
officers, between whom and the Confederates an arrange- 
ment had been made by which bread, meat and vegetables 
were brought into the pen. Some prisoners received 
money from home, and others who had watches, rings, 
knives or buttons would sell them to the Johnnies and, 
with Confederate scrip, buy what they wanted at the 
following prices : 

Potatoes, per bushel $40.00 

Flour, per quart 4.00 

Milk, per quart 3.00 

Onions, three tor i.oo 

Wheat Bread, small loaf 2.00 

Butter, per pound 10.00 

Lard, " 8.00 

Coffee, " - 10.00 

Tea, " 12.00 

Eggs, per dozen 6.00 

These prices were in Southern money. At that time 
one dollar. Federal money, was worth twenty-tw^o dollars 
of Confederate. 

October i8th two Confederate officers came into camp, 
inquiring for Lieutenant-Colonel Dale, of the One Hundred 
and Sixteenth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, as our 
government made a request to find 'him if possible, not 
knowing at the time that he was killed at Spottsylvania. 

Every ten days we were mustered into squads of twenty, 
given two axes and taken out to chop wood for our fires. 
Before going each one was expected to take the following 
parole : (but when the ceremony was being performed I 
always managed to be absent and so was free to escape 
whenever I got the chance) 



reminiscence of prison life in the south. 347 

Confederate States Military Prison. 

Columbia, S. C, October — , 1864. 

I, , prisoner of war, confined near the city of 

Colnmbia, S. C, Confederate States of America, do pledge 
my parole, as a military man and a man of honor, that I 
will not attempt to escape from the prison authorities nor 
pass beyond the prison limits more than three-quarters of 
a mile, and that at the expiration of the time named in the 
parole I will return promptly to the adjutant's office and 
have the same revoked. 

It is understood by me that this parole is involuntary 
on my part and that it is given with a view to securing 
privileges which cannot be otherwise obtained. 

(Signed) . 

In the mess with me were Lieutenants Robert Allen 
and Richard Cooper, Seventh New Jersey Volunteers ; 
Charles Stallman, Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania, and 
Henry F. Anshutz, Twelfth West Virginia Volunteers. 
The first time our party went out we cut some poles, and, 
with an old piece of canvas and a blanket, we fixed up a 
tent in the camp. At night we spread one blanket on the 
ground, lay down spoon fashion and pulled the other 
three old ones over us. Sometimes it would be so cold we 
would have to sit by the fire or walk about all night to 
keep warm and then sleep in the sun during the day. 

To shelter themselves from the cold winds hundreds of 
the men dug graves to sleep in. Often heavy rains which 
lasted for two or three days would come on and fill the 
graves with water. When the rain was over the grave 
diggers would recommence their dismal occupation and 
make a new resting place. 

October i8th, after nightfall, three officers made their 
escape down by the creek. The guards fired a number of 
shots at them, but, fortunately, none took effect. 



348 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

On the 19th General Winder paid a visit to the prison 
and promised to send us straw with which to make beds, 
but we never got it. Shortly after we heard that he 
dropped dead in Richmond. 

About 9 o'clock on the evening of the 20th Lieutenant 
Young, of the Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, while seated 
at a little fire talking with some officers, was shot through 
the body by a sentinel and only lived a few moments. The 
guard said his gun went off by accident, but the prisoners 
had their doubts about that. 

October 23d our squad went out for firewood. Lieu- 
tenant Allen hid behind a large tree and made his escape. 
The guards, being careless or stupid, did not miss him. 
Just before we were to return to camp I saw a good chance, 
and, taking advantage of it, pushed through some brush 
and got into the woods without being seen. Until dark I 
searched for Allen but could not find him, so I took up my 
quarters under a large tree and fell fast asleep. Next 
day I walked as well as I was able, but, having no shoes and 
my feet being bruised, torn and very sore from the under- 
brush and briars, I did not make much headway. That 
night I slept the best I could beside a little stream. Early 
next morning, being very hungry, I crossed a road and 
went to what I thought was a negro cabin ; a big dog 
came barking at me and in a few moments two men on 
patrol duty came up. By noon they had me safely lodged 
in my old quarters. Three days after Allen was recaptured 
and once more joined our mess. 

Almost every night prisoners would escape, but nearly 
all were recaptured. Captain Halpin was out for five days 
at one time, and on the night of October 30th ran over the 
line again. On this occasion he was out three weeks, and 
when brought back had on a new suit of Confederate 
clothes. He told me that when re-captured he was taken to 
a farmhouse. The family said they would like to let him 
go but were afraid the neighbors would inform on them. 
He was kindly tre:\ted and at night slept in the best bed 



REMINISCENCE OF PRISON LIFE IN THE SOUTH. 349 

in the house. In the evenings, when the young people 
went to little parties given by their friends, he was taken 
along and had a good time, which only made the sufferings 
of prison life harder to endure on his return to camp. 
November ist a mail from the North arrived and long- 
looked-for letters were distributed. 

November 14th a large wild boar ran into camp. 
Cooper, Allen and I were going to the brook for water 
when he ran past us. Cooper dropped the kettle and 
grabbed the hog by a hind leg. By that time Allen had 
his clasp-knife open and in a few seconds had cut the 
whole ham off the hog. In five minutes not a trace of 
that lively porker could be seen. When fifty hungry men 
were fighting for a share — one having hold of his ear, 
another his tail and another a leg — it did not take long to 
get away with Mr. Hog. When our ham was boiled it 
was so rank you could have smelt it a square away. One 
of our mess had to stand guard over it night and day till 
it was all eaten, fearing some of our friends would be 
tempted to dine on it. 

On the 29th of November, Captain John Taylor, of the 
Second Pennsylvania Reserves, made his escape by running 
past the sentinels who fired several shots at him, but before 
they could reload the Captain w^as in the woods. The 
Confederates thought he looked so lonely and forlorn 
traveling about in a strange country that they very kindly 
gave him a military escort, and in three weeks had him 
again amongst his friends in prison. This was the third 
or fourth time he had made his escape and been recaptured. 

One morning two blood-hounds came into camp, and, 
not being looked upon as friends of the prisoners, they 
were taken to a gravel pit and an artillery officer killed 
them with an axe and then buried them. Next day they 
were dug up by the Johnnies, who, to be revenged on us 
for slaying their dogs, said they would put the bodies in 
the brook above where it entered the camp, but I do not 
think the threat was carried out. It was reported that 



350 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

Lieutenant Parker, who made his escape, was so badly 
bitten by blood-hounds that he died the day after his 
recapture. 

December ist, 1864, about 9 o'clock in the morning, 
whilst walking near the dead line I heard a shot, and, 
looking around, saw Lieutenant Turbayne, of a New York 
infantry regiment, just falling to the ground. The ball 
entered his back, passing through his lungs, and he lived 
but a few moments. He was walking on a path near the 
line when a sentinel, by the name of Williams, of Newbury 
Court House, S. C, ordered him to go back. He turned 
and had only taken a few steps when fired upon. After 
the guard was relieved by the officer of the day we made 
a complaint to Major Griswold, the commandant of the 
prison, but he would not give us any satisfaction. That 
evening the murderer was back again on duty and next 
morning was paraded through camp escorted by a strong 
body guard, fearing if he came alone our officers would 
take revenge and kill him, as they threatened to do if they 
got an opportunity. Only a few nights after Lieutenant 
T. K. Eckings, Third New Jersey Volunteers, was shot 
dead as he ran past the sentinels at the guard line whilst 
trying to make his escape. 

On the 9th of December an exchange came for about 
fifty prisoners and one for an officer by the name of Cooper, 
who was not in the pen, he having made his escape. 
Lieutenant Richard Cooper, of our mess, said he would 
personate the absent officer and get exchanged. When the 
name was called and he had passed over the line to the 
place where the other officers were assembled, one of them 
told the Confederate officials he was not the right man. 
Cooper was immediately sent back to camp, and when he 
gave the name of the officer who informed on him the 
prisoners swore if they ever got North they would kill 
that "son of a gun ". 

On December 12th we were removed to Camp Asylum. 
The stockade enclosed part of the insane asylum grounds, 



REMINISCENCE OF PRISON LIFE IN THE SOUTH. 351 

and ill it was a frame house which was used as a hospital 
for our sick officers. We were given himber to build 
sheds and bunks, which, when finished, only held about 
one-half the prisoners. Each of the ten sheds was to 
accommodate fifty men, so we drew lots for a berth and I 
was fortunate enough to secure a place in one of the sheds. 
More lumber was to be sent but it did not come, so about 
six hundred men had to fix up sleeping quarters the best 
they could with their old blankets and some boards which 
they found in the stockade. Between scanty clothing, 
short rations and the. intensely cold weather we had a hard 
time trying to keep warm. 

One day the Confederate sutler brought in a load of 
meal for our rations. When the negroes dumped it in the 
bin I watched my chance and stole an empty bag. By 
cutting a hole in the bottom for my head and one on each 
side for my arms, that evening on the promenade I sported 
a very stylish new shirt. 

Captain Fischer, an artist, obtained permission to go 
outside and make a sketch of the camp for the Confederate 
authorities. He also made a note of the formation of the 
ground outside the fence for us that we might know the 
best point for tunnelling. Lieutenant McNiece, of the 
Seventy-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, had one dug from 
his shanty nearly to the fence when one morning the 
Johnnies came in and filled it up. How they found it out 
he never could tell, for no one in camp knew he was 
making it. Tunnels were then the order of the day. We 
commenced one in the shed I was in Every man was 
sworn to secrecy, and at night a detail of five was made to 
work in the tunnel. One man would dig, another pull the 
earth out in an old box and the others would pack it under 
the bunks and scatter it about the prison grounds to 
conceal all traces of the work. Unfortunately, we were 
moved from the camp a few nights before its completion. 

Early in January a French captain was sent to com- 
mand the prison. He was a good natured fellow and 



352 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

promised to send in plenty of straw with which to make 
beds. Captain Henry Ritter, Fifty-second New York 
Vohmteers, and some others were good at faro. The 
Frenchman thought he would soon "break the bank", 
but in two days our boys had him cleaned out of funds. 
A few days after he went on a big spree and was dismissed,, 
so we had to do without the straw. 

Most of the time a number of our officers were at 
headquarters. It was said they were clerking for the 
Confederate officials, and they allowed they were justified 
in saving their lives by so doing, for they received more 
and better food than was given them in the camp. I 
thought they should have remained in the prison, taking 
their chances with the rest of us, and not aided the 
Confederates in any way. 

It was while we were at Columbia that Adjutant S. H. 
M. Byres, Fifth Iowa Volunteers, wrote " Sherman's 
March to the Sea", and L-ieutenant Rockwell composed 
the music. 

For several days the negroes were telling us that Sher- 
man was on the march from Charleston. On the afternoon 
of February 14th, we were told to make ready to move 
and, that evening at 5 o'clock, we were marched out and 
put into box cars. We got under way and, in the early 
part of the night, it became very cold. A severe storm of 
rain and sleet came on, and when about thirty miles on 
the way the last car, in which I was, caught fire from 
warm boxes. The hind truck and bottom were nearly 
destroyed before the engineer stopped the train. Some of 
the guards on the tops of the cars were frozen stiff and had 
to be lifted down. We built fires with fence rails to keep 
ourselves warm whilst waiting for the Confederates to 
prepare another car which, when ready, was placed next 
the engine. We had not gone far on our journey when this 
car began to stretch. The engine in front and the weight 
of the train behind had nearly pulled the old box car in 
two, when the guards on the top, seeing the danger we 



REMINISCENCE OF PRISON LIFE IN THE SOUTH. 353 

were in, called to the engineer who hastily brought the 
train to a standstill. The old wrecked car was removed 
from the track and, as there was no other to replace it, 
they were obliged to crowd us in with the other prisoners. 

In the evening of the 15th we reached Charlotte, re- 
mained there over night and, next day, were removed to 
Raleigh, where we were placed in a field near the railroad. 
Here we were given our parole and had hopes that we 
would be allowed to enter the town and enjoy a little bit 
of civilized life. But we were mistaken for, in a few 
hours, we were put on a train made up of flat and box cars 
and started on our way to a new camp. When about a 
mile from town, a broken switch threw the engine and five 
or six cars off the track. They ran over the ties for about 
a hundred yards when the engine plunged down a high 
embankment. Fortunately, the coupling broke or the 
cars would have gone over and the loss of life would have 
been very great. Some of the prisoners said it was done 
Math the intention to kill us, but others thought that, as 
the Confederate captain in command was on the engine, he 
would not risk his own life and the lives of the engineer 
and fireman for the satisfaction of killing us. 

The evening we left Columbia, there not being enough 
room in the cars for all the prisoners, several hundred were 
left in the camp and next day forwarded to Charlotte on 
another made-up train of box cars. During the trip, 
Captains Meany, Thirteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, Dur- 
borough of New York, Kvans of Ohio and Gilbert, One 
Hundred and Thirty-second New York Volunteers, cut a 
hole in the bottom of the car they were in with a saw 
which, by the help of an old file, they had made out of a 
table knife. After dark, the train ran into a herd of cattle 
that was being driven out of the reach of Sherman's 
Army. When the train came to a stop. Captain Evans 
dropped out to reconnoitre. He returned and reported to 
the boys that all was favorable for escape but, as he 
lowered himself through the hole the second time, the 



354 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

guards saw him and several shots were fired, one ball 
passing into his stomach. He also received a bayonet 
wound. Captains Meany and Gilbert pulled him into the 
car and did what they could for their wounded friend, but 
he died in a few minutes. 

From Raleigh, many prisoners made their escape, 
amongst the number Captain Halpin, who safely reached 
Sherman's lines. The guards at this place knowing we 
were on our way to be exchanged seemed to have no wish 
to prevent our escape. Quite a number of them being 
Union sympathizers allowed us every chance to get away. 

After being eight days at Raleigh we were removed to 
Goldsborough . Here, there were thousands of prisoners 
encamped who had been brought from Andersonville to be 
exchanged. I spent a day amongst them and will never 
forget the awful scenes I witnessed ; men worn to skeletons 
from disease and want of proper nourishment, as black as 
negroes from sitting over the pine-wood fires and not being 
washed for months. Some wandered about as if demented ; 
a great many were in their last agony ; and a number of 
the dead were lying on the roadside, having been carried 
out of camp when their sufferings were over. Our ofldcers 
gave their old blankets and what clothing they could pos- 
sibly spare for the comfort of their wretched fellow-soldiers. 

February 28th, we were paroled and had to give our 
word of honor to the Confederates not to reveal in the 
North what we saw on the way to Wilmington. They 
took good care, however, that we should not see the forti- 
fications for, when it became quite dark, we were crowded 
into and on top of cars and started on our last, but most 
welcome, journey. 

We stopped about eight miles from Wilmington, where 
we met Major Mulford, the Northern and Captain Hatch , 
the Southern Commissioner of Exchange. A Union guard 
was stationed on one side of the line and a Confederate 
one on the other. When we passed into our lines the 
Federal guard presented arms. Then went up a hearty 



REMINISCENCE OF PRISON LIFE IN THE SOUTH. 355 

cheer and old meal bags, tin cups and skillets went flying 
in all directions. Some colored troops, who were quar- 
tered in the vicinity, gave us a rousing welcome. We 
then partook of a "good, square meal" of coffee, meat 
and bread, which sumptuous repast made some of us ex- 
ceedingly ill, not being used to such high living. The 
very sick were taken on a steamboat to the city. As there 
were no other means of conveyance, the rest had to walk 
all the way along the railroad track. In the evening we 
had supper, and for the night were quartered in a Methodist 
Church. In the morning, I was physically much refreshed 
after the good night's sleep I had had in an uncushioned 
pew and, mentally and spiritually, I was much revived 
from having spent so many hours in such a sanctified 
place. That day we had a good breakfast and dinner and, 
in the evening, were put on board a steamboat and taken 
to Annapolis. When we arrived there we went to some 
clothing stores and, by giving our name, rank and regi- 
ment, got all the clothes we wanted on credit. We were 
then taken to the bath house, discarded our old rags with 
much pleasure, had a thorough wash, donned our new 
suits and every man thought he was himself again. We 
slept that night in a government building and, next day, 
the doctor sent me to the Naval Academy Hospital, where 
I remained for two months. 

In the hospital we v/ere given good, nourishing food, 
so that gradually our systems were brought back to their 
normal state. We were not allowed to take any kind of 
spirituous liquors but at dinner, if we wished it, we were 
permitted to have one glass of beer. 

There was a captain of cavalry in the same ward with 
me. Thirteen of his men who had been in Andersonville, 
but were then in Camp Parole, got a thirty days' furlough 
to go home and see their families ; they came to bid their 
captain good-bye. All were cleaned up, had on new 
clothes and looked very well. When their time was up 
only two came back. Eleven had died from being overfed 



356 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

and having too good a time with their friends. The 
doctors at Annapolis said there were few, if any, who spent 
six months in prison, who were not afflicted with some 
disease and the system could not stand the sudden change 
of diet. Of the nine men in my company who were cap- 
tured, only three lived to return, the others having died in 
less than three months after being taken. 

When we were given notice of our exchange, I re- 
quested and received my discharge from the hospital and 
joined my regiment after an absence of nearly a year. 

One of my men, Sergeant Thomas Lacompte, who had 
been a prisoner in Andersonville, gave me a cop}' of the 
following verses composed by a Union captive after he 
was paroled : 

UNION PRISONERS FROM DIXIE'S SUNNY LAND. 

Dear friends and fellow-soldiers brave, come listen to our song, 
About the Rebel prisons, and our sojourn there so long ; 
Yet our wretched state and hardships great no one can understand. 
But those who have endured this fate in Dixie's sunny land. 

When captured by the chivalry, they strip't us to the skin, 
But failed to give us back again the value of a pin — 
Except some lousy rags of gray, discarded by their band — 
Aiid thus commenced our prison life in Dixie's sunny land. 

With a host of guards surrounding us, each with a loaded gun. 
We were stationed in an open plain, exposed to rain and sun ; 
No tent or tree to shelter us, we lay upon the sand — 
Thus, side by side, great numbers died in Dixie's sunu}^ land. 

This was the daily " bill of fare" in that Secesh saloon — 

No sugar, tea or coffee there at morning night or noon ; 

But a pint of meal, ground cob and all, was served to every man, 

And for want of fire we ate it raw in Dixie's sunny land. 

We were by these poor rations soon reduced to skin and bone, 
A lingering starvation — worse than death — you can but own. 
There hundreds lay, both night and day, by far too weak to stand. 
Till death relieved their sufferings in Dixie's sunny land. 

We poor survivors oft were tried by many a threat and bribe. 
To desert our glorious Union cause and join the Rebel tribe, 
Though fain we were to leave the place, we let them understand. 
We had rather die than thus disgrace our flag ! in Dixie's land. 



REMINISCENCE OF PRISON LIFE IN THE SOUTH. 357 

Thus dreary days and nights roll'd by— yes, weeks and months untold, 
Until that happy time arrived when we were all paroled. 
We landed at Annapolis, a wretched looking band. 
But glad to be alive and free from Dixie's sunny land. 

How like a dream those days now seem in retrospective view. 
As we regain our wasted strength all dressed in " Union Blue". 
The debt we owe our bitter foe shall not have long to stand ; 
We shall pay it with a vengeance soon in Dixie's sunny land. 

The dreadful monotony of prison life wa.s hard to 
endure ; day after day, week after week and month after 
month, the same scenes over again. When a few men 
would meet, the general conversation would be about 
home and family. The prospects were that the war would 
last so long they would not live to see the end, and that 
they would never be exchanged, and what then would 
become of their wives and children. I have seen some 
men so worried and despondent with these thoughts they 
seemed to be demented and their hair, dark and glossy 
when captured, would be in a few months turned to gray 
or white. 

It is impossible for anyone, who has not been a prisoner, 
to realize the privation and suffering those unfortunate 
men had to endure. With few exceptions, their clothing 
was worn to rags ; a great number were without shoes or 
shirt, and they had nothing but their old blankets to cover 
them in the cold, frosty nights ; for months at a time lying 
on the bare, damp ground with no shelter ; the rations, 
scant and miserable ; and night and day constantly tortured 
with vermin from which no one could keep free. Is it 
any wonder that loathsome diseases should prevail, or that 
welcome death should end the earthly sufferings of .so 
man)' thousands who w^ent to that blessed land above that 
they might receive their Martyr's Crown? 



RETURN MARCH TO WASHINGTON 359 



RETURN MARCH TO WASHINGTON. 

A S the army moved towards Appomattox through that 
-^^^ portion of Virginia where hitherto but few of the 
Union troops had been seen, the slaves on the plantations 
watched the passing columns with great interest, some 
showing their white teeth in a broad smile, whilst others 
looked grave. They all seemed to feel that their fate 
rested with the boys in blue, but the war was not yet 
ended, and they knew not whether they were to remain in 
bondage or breathe the air of freedom. 

The majority of the men had already gone North or 
had left for Alexandria, but the women and children all 
remained and swarmed to the road-side to see the army 
pass, all willing and anxious to give information of the 
flying Confederates. But when, after the surrender, the 
army passed over the same road, on the way back, the 
situation was different. Every soul of them had become 
aware of the Union triumph, and knew that, as a conse- 
quence, the chains had fallen from their limbs. Old and 
young wanted to abandon the homestead at once and 
follow the victorious army. The roads were soon filled 
with the poor things, each with a little bundle containing 
their all hung on a stick (just as the woodcuts of run- 
away slaves used to look in the newspapers in ante-bellum 
times), each one laughing and happy, all tramping towards 
the North, not having an idea where they were going, but 
each thinking that Father Abraham would care for them 
somehow. 

For them the days of the lash and task-master were 
over, but the future was a blank. Now and then one 



360 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

would be encountered who had some definite object in 
leaving the plantation. 

One old darkey who paused in front of some officers 
began talking to them of the necessity of saving their 
souls and preparing for the great hereafter. A strange 
character he was, who could neither read nor write, but 
knew almost every word of the Bible by heart. He had 
been the local preacher of the plantation, and when one of 
the officers asked him if he believed in " Virtue, Liberty 
and Independence", he promptly replied: "I don know, 
massa, I don know. I neber hear ob dat ligeon, but I 
bleve dat a man got to be bawn again if he specks to be 
saved ". Abraham, for that was the old man's name (and 
as he said himself, " he neber had no names ceptin jus 
Abraham ") remained with the regiment until it was mus- 
tered out. He was going to Alexandria to find his wife 
and child, who had been sold to some one near that city 
twenty-four years before. He had never heard of them 
during all that time, but his heart was true to the wife of 
his youth, and his newly found freedom was made sweeter 
by the hopes of finding once more his early partner and 
his child. Abraham held a prayer-meeting and preached 
a sermon every evening before "Taps", and the negroes 
would gather around and enjoy it. The soldiers were at 
first disposed to laugh at the crude theology and uncouth 
oratory of the old slave, but they soon ceased to ridicule, 
and then listened with interest. 

Poor old Abraham ! I wonder if he ever found his lost 
bride and his little baby. He must be very old now, if he 
is still alive, and no doubt he is still searching for his lost 
love, if he has not already found her. If he has been 
''bawn agin" he has certainly met her, for as he said 
(after learning the meaning of the words), "he bleved in 
de vartue, but dint know so much about de Liberty an' 
Independence ". Let us hope that he enjoys all three in 
the Land of the Blessed. 



RETURN MARCH TO WASHINGTON. 361 

Perhaps one of the most interesting and remarkable 
things witnessed in connection with the homeward march 
was the late Confederate soldiers busy working on their 
farms. The very hour after the surrender they hastened 
to their former homes, and within twenty-four hours many 
of them were eagerly at work getting the neglected farms 
in order. As the Union Army had halted at Burkville for 
two weeks, the Virginian had time to reach his home and 
get to work before the returning victors passed his way, 
and in every case the ex-Confederate was found hard at 
work fixing up his fences or laboring in the field with the 
horse that General Grant had so wisely allowed him to 
keep when surrendering. Sensible and practical as well 
as brave, when they laid down the musket, they went 
back without delay to the ploughshare, and all along the 
road the ex-Confederate soldier was seen leaving his 
plough or harrow for a time and standing by the roadside 
to greet with a smile and pleasant word his foes of but a 
few days before. 

The regiment encamped at Burkville Junction during 
the remainder of the month of April, and on the evening 
of the 15th the sad news of the assassination of President 
Abraham Lincoln was received. When the dispatch was 
read the regiment was just forming for dress-parade. The 
adjutant quietly removed his coat, and, ripping out the 
black lining, used it to drape the colors. The dress- 
parade that followed was silent and sad, the men looking 
towards the heavily draped flag and wondering what it 
meant. When the adjutant read the orders, and then, 
with tears streaming down his cheeks, and choking voice, 
read the announcement of the murder, the effect was inde- 
scribable. When arms were stacked the men gathered in 
little groups in the company streets and spoke in low tones 
of the martyred President, whom they loved so tenderl}'. 

It happened that Lieutenant Wm. H. Tyrrell, of Com- 
pany C, was on duty in Washington, and was "officer of the 
-day" in the city when the assassination of the President 



362 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

took place. The lieutenant's account of the eventful 
evening is interesting. In his diary we read : 

" Friday, April 14th, 1865. Was detailed as "officer of 
the day " at Washington. A gentleman came very hur- 
riedly to headquarters, between 10 and n P. M., with the 
intelligence that the President had just been assassinated 
at Ford's Theatre, and informed General Augur in an ex- 
cited manner, as nearly as he could, of the occurrence. 
The play was "The American Cousin," and was §oing 
along suioothl}- when the whole audience was startled by 
a pistol shot in the President's box. A man sprang from 
it onto the stage, brandishing a large knife, and, shouting 
" Sic semper tyrannis"! rushed across the stage and disap- 
peared. The audience was terror-stricken. Some shouted 
that it was Booth. Others said no; that it was only a 
subterfuge to shield the real assassin. General Augur 
ordered me to take a guard, go to the National Hotel and 
arrest Booth, anyhow. Went there, and was told he was 
not in. Went up to his room ; found everything there as 
though he expected to return soon. 

I returned to headquarters and reported. By this time 
it developed that an attempt had been made on Vice-Pres- 
ident Johnson, and that Secretary Seward was also almost 
killed. I was ordered to return to the hotel and bring any 
papers or anything else which I thought likely to throw 
any light on the case. Brought some papers which led to 
the arrest of Atzerof and Herold ; also, two pairs of hand- 
cuffs which I found in his trunk. Reported at headquar- 
ters. Found great excitement there. Secretary of War 
Stanton, Adjutant-General Townsend and others were 
there. They did not then know the extent of the plot, 
and seemed to think that the provost marshal's headquar-^ 
ters was a place of refuge. 

It then developed that the original plot was to capture 
Lincoln and Seward, get them across the line, hold them 
as hostages, and then make their own terms. The hand- 
cuffs were intended to be used on the occasion. There 




CARD PHOTOGRAPH OF WILKES BOOTH, LEG IRONS AND HAND-CUFFS INTENDED FOR PRESIDENT LINCOLN. THESE 
ARTICLES WERE TAKEN OUT OF THE TRUNK OP THE ASSASSIN BY LIEUTENANT TYRRELL. 



RETURN MARCH TO WASHINGTON. 36^ 

was an old mansion on Seventeenth street, about two 
squares below the White House, where the conspirators 
had a secret room fitted up for the reception of their 
distinguished captives. They could thus have been con- 
cealed a few minutes after their abduction, and no one 
would have thought of looking for them so near at hand. 
After the excitement was over they were to be taken over 
to Moseby's lines, and then to Richmond, but as that plan 
was evidently abandoned, the assassination followed. 

The excitement in Washington was intense. The 
people were ready for any extreme. On the Sunday after- 
noon following, x\pril i6th, a Confederate colonel was 
brought to the provost marshal's office. An immense 
crowd of people gathered and wanted to hang him. 
While Colonel Ingraham, the provost marshal, was talking 
and trying to quiet them, the prisoner colonel was hurried 
out the back way and driven in an ambulance to the old 
Capitol Prison. Monday morning, April 17th, at 3 A. m., 
an orderly came to my house with orders to report at 
headquarters. On my arrival found that they had Payne, 
the man who had cut Secretary of State Seward's throat. 
He was a large, muscular man, and had his hands hand- 
cuffed behind him. He was captured by the detectives 
who were in Mrs. Surratt's house, on H street, near Sixth. 
He came to the door, and, as he had lost his hat, had 
taken the lower part of his trousers and made a cap of it. 
He had a spade in his hand and claimed to be a workman. 
Lieutenant Sharp and myself took him in an ambulance,, 
with two guards walking outside to keep off intruders. 
Orders were to let no one know who it was. If it were 
known, a regiment of soldiers could not have taken him 
down to the Navy Yard. When we arrived there the gates 
were closed, and the major in command turned out the 
whole guard, about twenty-five men, and put him in the 
centre until we arrived out on one of the ironclad monitors, 
where he was secureh* confined. It was thought necessary 
to do so, as no ordinary prison would have been safe from 



364 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

the populace, so intense was the public feeling. 

The following Wednesday, April 19th, Colonel Ingraham 
ordered me to take a guard and proceed to the Baltimore 
and Ohio Depot. He met us there, and as soon as the 
train arrived put a guard on each door, and would allow 
no one out until the general who commanded the Depart- 
ment of Maryland came out with three prisoners, who 
were escorted to the large bus of Willard's Hotel. We 
all got in, and drove rapidly to the Navy Yard. No one 
on the train had suspected who the prisoners were, or they 
never would have reached Washington alive. They were 
Atzerof, Herold and Arnold. The former was the one 
who was to have assassinated Vice-President Johnson at 
the Kirkwood House, but he weakened at the last 
moment. Booth, after entering the passage leading to the 
President's box, secured the door on the inside, and, 
advancing, shot the President from behind. The pistol 
was a small Derringer, single barrel, about 42 calibre. 
Mr. Rathbone, the President's private secretary, tried to 
detain Booth, but brandishing a large knife, he leaped 
from the box. In doing so, one of the spurs which he had 
on caught in the flag in front of the box, and threw him 
on the stage. In the fall he broke his ankle, but got up 
and drove the terror-stricken actors before him. He 
rushed out the back way into an alley, where he had a 
horse saddled, mounted it and escaped. 

Thursday, April 20th, Dr. Mudd was brought to head- 
quarters. It was at his place, down in Maryland, that 
Booth in his terrific ride stopped and had his broken ankle 
dressed, and received the carbine which had been previ- 
ously left there by Mrs. Surratt. He then continued his 
journey until surrounded in a barn and shot by Boston 
Corbett while the barn was all ablaze. 

Mudd was also put aboard the ironclad." 



During the homeward march a halt of a couple of days 
was made at Manchester, within a few miles of Richmond, 



RETURN MARCH TO WASHINGTON. 365 

and while there a platform was pointed out upon which it 
was said the slaves were stood to be auctioned. The men 
of the regiment took it down and cut it into small pieces, 
and fired the pile with a show of ceremony. It seemed 
like a burnt offering on the altar of Liberty. The plat- 
form was of no further use. No man, no matter what his 
color, would ever again be bought or sold in all the land. 

While encamped at Manchester orders came to prepare 
for review in Richmond, and a busy day was spent clean- 
ing up. Guns and equipments were made to shine, and 
when the troops passed through the late Capital of the 
Southern Confederacy they never looked so well. The 
white citizens were not backward in giving to the vic- 
torious army a welcome and a cheer, whilst the colored 
people seemed fairly crazed with joy. To them it was 
" Kingdom come ", the day of jubilee longed for and 
prayed for. The column passed in review by the eques- 
trian statue of Washington, in the Public Square, and the 
Father of his country seemed to smile in gladness on this 
happy day. 

The march continued through Hanover Court House, 
and then to Fredericksburg, and on to Alexandria, where 
a halt was made long enough to make out the muster-out 
rolls. 

In the last grand review, in Washington, May 23, 1865, 
the One Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment marched on 
the right of the Fourth Brigade, First Division, Second 
Corps. The regiment on that occasion was commanded by 
Lieutenant-Colonel David W. Megraw, Colonel and Brevet 
Major-General St. Clair A. Mulholland being in command 
of the brigade. A few days afterwards the Philadelphia 
companies of the regiment started for that city, and were 
finally mustered out on June 3d. The remaining com- 
panies were mustered out at Pittsburg, July 14, 1865, and 
the regiment passed out of existence. 

The members returned to their homes to be welcomed 
by their friends and fellow-citizens, to lay aside forever 



366 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

the uniform that they had honored, and to become once 
again a part of the people — a good citizen because a good 
soldier. 

The regimental flags, four in number, shattered, bullet- 
torn and blood-stained, were deposited in the State Capitol 
at Harrisburg, where for generations to come the descen- 
dants of the members of the regiment can with reverence 
look upon the sacred standards, the only remaining em- 
blems of a gallant command that upheld them in storm 
of battle, carried them to victory, and returned them to 
the State with honor. 

Of the officers of the regiment eight were killed in 
battle, two died of gunshot wounds, one died of disease, 
and one of disease contracted in Southern prisons. 
Thirty-one were wounded, and seven were for months 
prisoners in the South. Of the original officers who left 
Philadelphia with the regiment, September 2, 1862, only 
one. Colonel Mulholland, returned with the command at 
the close of the war. 

THE LAST MUSTER. 

On the nth day of September, 1889, the last reunion of 
the regiment took place when the survivors met at Gettys- 
burg to dedicate a monument to the command. Post 51, 
Grand Army of the Republic, paraded as an escort, the 
battery of the post firing the salute, the first gun being 
fired by John W. Emsley, the son of an officer who never 
missed a fight or a battle, and, with sounding artillery, and 
speeches by Major Chill Hazard, General Thomas J. Stew- 
art, lyieutenant Edmund Randall, General Mulholland and 
others, the splendid memorial was fittingly dedicated. 




ienim'mhai^m:'iim^tMpr '• . 



MONUMENT OF THE REGIMENT AT GETTYSBURG. 



THE LAST MUSTER. 367 

General Mulholland, on the occasion, delivered the 
following- address : 

IN all the four years of its existence the men of the Army of the Potomac 
never hailed an order with more delight than that one which with- 
drew us from before Fredericksburg and sent us north. When on 
that lovely summer evening in June, 1S63, we looked for the last time on 
Marj-e's Heights and the monument of Washington's mother, which 
had been shattered and broken by the shells of both armies, and stood 
out there on the plain back of the city as though protesting against this 
fratricidal strife, a mute and sorrowful Niobe weeping for the misfortunes 
of her children, every heart beat with a quickening throb, and all the 
men rejoiced to leave the scenes of the last six months. We withdrew 
from the line of the river after the shades of night had fallen over the 
landscape, and it seemed to be an appropriate hour, for had not the great 
army while here been in shadow, without a ra^- of simshine to gladden 
our souls, and we had been here so long that we were beginning to be 
forgotten as the Army of the Potomac, and letters came to us marked 
"Army of the Rappahannock ". 

As we marched away in the darkness our joy was not unmingled 
with sorrow, for was there a veteran in the ranks who did not leave be- 
hind the graves of noble and well-beloved comrades w'ho had fought 
beside him from the beginning of the great struggle? We did not march 
away with all the arm}', for when our camp-fires — which on this night 
burned with unusual brightness — went out and left the valley of the 
Rappahannock in darkness, the living army was gone to be sure, but 
twenty thousand of our members lay over on the other side of the river 
— the heroes of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. An army of occu- 
pation indeed, the corps of honor, forming a great and permanent 
camp — the bivouac of the dead. 

Thoughts of sadness soon gave way to those of a more buoyant 
nature ; we felt, when the head of the column turned toward the Capital, 
that the road we trod would lead to victory. The march to Gettysburg 
was one of the longest and most severe we had yet experienced. In 
thinking of war we are apt to look only at the battles ; to hear the dread 
sound of strife ; see the deadlj-, gaping wounds, and are ready to crown 
the survivors or give honor to those who fell ; but the hardships of the 
march, the heats of summer, the colds of winter, the entire absence of 
every comfort and luxury in active service is overlooked or forgotten by 
those who do not participate. Napoleon, when retreating from Moscow, 
lost many of his men by the excessive cold ; directly opposite was our 
experience on the way to Gettysburg. On one da}', I think the second 
out from Falmouth, our corps lost more than a dozen men from sun- 
stroke — they fell dead by the wayside. On another day we crossed the 
battlefield of Bull Run, where the 3'ear before Pope had met with disas- 
trous defeat. No effort had been made to bury the dead properly ; a 



368 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

little earth, which the rain had long ago washed away, had been thrown 
over them where they fell, and their bodies, or rather their skeletons^, 
now lay exposed to view. In some parts of the field they were in 
groups ; in other places singly and in all possible positions. One 
cavalryman lay outstretched with skeleton hand still grasping his rusted 
sword. Another, half covered with earth, the flesh still clinging to his 
lifeless bones, with hand extended as if to greet us. We rested for a 
short time on the field, and one of the regiments of our brigade (the 
Twenty-eighth Massachusetts), halted on the very spot on which they 
had fought the year previously, and recognized the various articles 
lying around as belonging to their own dead. 

The rovite of the Second Corps to Gettysburg was over two hundred 
miles in length. Some days we marched fifteen, on others eighteen 
miles, and one day (June 29) this corps completed the longest march 
made by infantry during the war, leaving Frederick City, Maryland, in 
the morning, and halting at 11 o'clock p.m. two miles beyond Union- 
town, a distance of thirty-four miles. When I look back over the 
almost score of years to this march of the Second Corps, and think of 
the perfect discipline in the ranks, the cheerfulness with which the 
enlisted men, with their heavy load, musket and ammunition, knapsack 
and cartridge box, shelter tent and blanket, canteen and rations — 
trudged along under the broiling sun of the hottest month of the year ; 
how bravely they struggled to keep up with their regiments lest they 
should miss the fight, and how, while on the march no act was committed 
which could bring dishonor upon them as men, as citizens or as soldiers, 
my heart fills with admiration, and I offer a flowing measure of praise 
to my comrades who are yet alive and to those who are no more. There 
is not an inhabitant on all that line of march who can tell of a single 
act of vandalism by any of the men, such as we are wont to hear of 
other armies. In the rich and cultivated country through which we 
passed life and property were respected as much as though we were in 
the halcyon days of peace. Old and young came to the roadside to see 
the army pass, and knew they were safe from insult or molestation. The 
fields of ripening grain waved untrampled when the corps had gone by, 
the men even going out of their way to avoid the gardens, lest they 
should step upon the flowers. The perfection of discipline in the army 
at this time was extraordinary. The armies that fought the war of 1861 
differed very widely from the armies of other nations. We had no 
hordes of Cossacks, no regiments of Bashi-Bazouks to burn and destroy, 
to insult the aged or crush the defenseless. 

When Hancock, at Williamsburg, said to his brigade, " Gentlemen, 
charge", he did not call his troops out of their name. Our army was 
literally an army of gentlemen. 

And so we passed on to Thoroughfare Gap, to Edwards' Ferry, to 
Frederick, Maryland, to Uniontown and Taneytowu, where, on the 
morning of July i, the Second Corps was massed and where General 



THE LAST MUSTER. 369 

Meade's headquarters had been estabhshed. While the corps were filing 
into the fields to the right and left of the road and settling down for a 
rest and to wait for orders, General Hancock rode over to General Meade 
and entered into conversation with him. As they were talking a 
mounted officer dashed up bringing the intelligence that fighting had 
begun at Gett}'sburg — thirteen miles distant. The news was meagre — 
only that there was fighting, that was all ; yet it caused a general sur- 
prise, unaware as we were of the near proximity of the enemy, and was 
enough to send a thrill throughout the veteran ranks. The road that 
leads to Gettysburg is scanned with anxious ej'es and soon, away in the 
distance, rises a cloud of dust, which comes nearer and nearer, and 
another messenger from the front is with us. He tells us that Reynolds 
is killed and that the First and Eleventh Corps are fighting and the 
battle is against us. It is now i o'clock, too late for the Second Corps 
to reach the field that day to take part in stemming the tide ; but not so 
with its commander. Meade orders Hancock to proceed to the front 
and take command of all the troops there assembled. This was i.io 
o'clock, and within twenty minutes Hancock, with his staff, was on the 
road to Gettysburg. He goes like Dessaix at Marengo, to snatch victory 
from the jaws of defeat. (A strange coincidence related to me by 
General Hancock himself, nearly a century before the grandfather of 
General Hancock, then a soldier of Washington's army, started from 
this same little village of Taneytown to escort some of the prisoners of 
Burgoyne to Valley Forge.) The Second Corps promptly followed 
General Hancock, and it required no urging to keep the men up. The 
regiments moved solidly and rapidly and not a straggler was to be seen. 
Men never covered thirteen miles so quickly ; but as they hurried along 
a halt was ordered, the ranks opened, and an ambulance passed contain- 
ing the dead body of the heroic General John F. Reynolds. Then the 
corps pushed on to within a short distance of the battle ground, where 
it camped that night and arrived on the field early the next morning. 

As General Hancock proceeded to the front, he rode part of the 
way in an ambulance so that he might examine the maps of the country, 
his aide, Major Mitchell, galloping ahead to announce his coming to 
General Howard, whom he found on Cemetery Hill, and to whom he 
told his errand. At 3 30 o'clock. General Hancock rode up to General 
Howard, informed him that he had come to take command. Howard 
answered, "Hancock, go ahead". At this moment our defeat seemed 
to be complete. Our troops were flowing through the streets of the 
town in great disorder, closely pursued by the Confederates, the retreat 
fast becoming a rout, and in a very few minutes the enemy would have 
been in possession of Cemetery Hill, the key to the position, and the 
battle of Gettysburg would have gone into history as a Confederate 
victory. But what a change came over the scene in the next half hour. 
The presence of Hancock, like that of Sheridan, was magnetic. Order 
came out of chaos. The flying troops halt and again face the enemy. 



370 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

The battalions that were retreating down the Baltimore pike are called 
back, and with a cheer go into position on the crest of Cemetery Hill, 
where the division of Steinwehr had already been stationed. 

When order had taken the place of confusion, and our lines once 
more intact, he sent his senior aide. Major Mitchell, back to tell General 
Meade, that in his judgment, Gettysburg was the place to fight our 
battle. Major Mitchell found General Meade in the evening, near 
Taneytown, and communicated these views. General Meade listened 
attentively, and on these representations he fortunately concluded to 
deliver the battle at Gettysburg, and turning to General Seth Williams, 
his adjutant-general, he said: "Order up all the troops, we will 
fight there ! " 

The morning of July 2, and the second day of the battle dawned 
clear and bright, and found Hancock posting the Second Corps on 
Cemetery Ridge. As yet, no one in that corps, with the exception of 
the general and his staff, had heard a shot fired. As we approached 
Gettysburg the day before, the sounds of the fight, owing to the direction 
of the wind or the formation of the country, were wholly inaudible. 
Those who came upon the field after nightfall, had no idea of the 
whereabouts of the enemy, but as the daylight increased and objects 
became visible, we saw their lines nearly a mile distant on Seminary 
Ridge, and away to our left rose Little Round Top, and still farther on 
Round Top. As the day wore on and not a shot or a hostile sound 
broke the stillness of the morning, it became evident that the enemy 
were not yet ready to renew the fight. Our corps had got into position 
(not on the eastern slope of Cemetery Ridge as now marked, but directly 
on the crest some fifty yards forward) and in a woods just back of our 
line the birds carolled and sang. Our horses quietly browsed in the 
rich grass, and the men lay in groups, peacefully enjoying a rest after 
the rapid march of the day before. The troops that arrived on the field 
or changed their position, did so leisurely and unmolested. Sickles 
came up and went into position on our left, and Geary took his division 
over to Culp's Hill. About 10 o'clock A. M., picket firing was heard out 
towards the left beyond the Emmitsburg pike, continuing at intervals 
until long after noon, at times becoming quite sharp. But 3 o'clock 
came and still no signs of the general engagement. 

The boys had partly recovered from their fatigue and were actually 
beginning to enjoy life ; some of them indulged in a quiet game of 
euchre, while others toasted their hardtack or fried a little bacon at the 
small fires in the rear of the lines. Shortly after 3 o'clock, a movement 
was apparent on our left. From where we (Caldwell's Division) lay, the 
whole country in our front and far to our left, away to the peach orchard 
and to Little Round Top, was in full view, the country not then being 
so grown up as at this day. Our division stood in brigade columns, and 
when it became evident that something was going to take place, the 
boys dropped their cards, regardless of what was trump, and all gathered 



THE LAST MUSTER. 371 

on the most favorable position to witness the opening of the ball. Soon 
the long lines of the Third Corps are seen advancing, and how splendidly 
they march. It looks like dress parade, a review. On, on they go, out 
toward the peach orchard, but not a shot fired. A little while longer 
and some one calls out " there," and points to where a puff of smoke is 
seen arising against the dark green of the woods beyond the Emmits- 
burg pike. Another and another until the whole face of the forest is 
enveloped, and the dread sound of artillery comes loud and quick, shells 
are seen bursting in all directions along the lines. The bright colors of 
the regiments are conspicuous marks, and the shells burst around them 
in great numbers. The musketry begins, the infantry becomes engaged 
and the battle extends along the whole front of Sickles's Corps. (The 
writer, in company with General Hancock, who, a few minutes before, 
had ridden up to the right of the Second Brigade and dismounted. 
General Caldwell, Colonel Kelly of the Eighty-eighth New York, 
Colonel Burns of the Twenty-eighth Massachusetts, and several other 
field ofiicers, who had sought that eligible locality to view the contest, 
were grouped together. Hancock was resting on one knee, leaning 
upon his sword ; he smiled and remarked : " Wait a moment, you will 
soon see them tumbling back.") Now the sounds come from Little 
Round Top, and the smoke rises among the trees, and all the high and 
wooded ground to the left of the peach orchard seems to be the scene of 
strife. An hour passed and our troops give way and are falling back, 
the odds are against them and they are forced to retire. 

A staff officer rides up with an order to the commander of the 
Second Corps to send a division to report to General Sykes on the left. 
Hancock quietly remarks, "Caldwell, get your division ready." 
"Fall in," and the men run to their places, " take arms," and the four 
brigades of Zook, Cross, Brooke and Kelly, although small in numbers, 
are ready for the fray. There is yet a few minutes to spare before 
starting, and the time is occupied in one of the most impressive 
religious ceremonies I have ever witnessed. The Irish Brigade, which 
has been commanded formerly by General Thomas Francis Meagher, 
and whose green flag has been unfurled on every battle in which the 
Army of the Potomac was engaged, from the first Bull Run to Appo- 
mattox, and now commanded by Colonel Patrick Kelly, and to which 
our regiment was attached, formed a part of this division. The brigade 
stood in column of regiments closed in mass. As a large majority of 
its members were Catholics, the chaplain of the brigade. Rev. William 
Corby, proposed to give a general absolution to all the men before going 
into the fight. While this is customary in the armies of the Catholic 
countries in Europe, it was, perhaps, the first time it was ever witnessed 
on this continent, unless, indeed, the grim old warrior, Ponce de Leon, 
as he tramped through the everglades of Florida in search of the 
Fountain of Youth, or De Soto, on his march to the Mississippi, indulged 
in this act of devotion. Father Corby stood upon a large rock in front 



372 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

of the brigade. Addressing the men, he explained what he was about 
to do, saying that each one could receive the benefit of the absolution 
by making a sincere act of contrition and firmly resolving to embrace 
the first opportunity of confessing their sins, urging them to do their 
duty well, and reminding them of the high and sacred nature of their 
trust as soldiers and the noble object for which they fought, ending by 
saying that the Catholic church refuses Christian burial to the soldier 
who turns his back upon the foe or deserts his flag. The brigade was 
standing at " order arms," and as he closed his address, every man fell 
on his knees, with head bowed down. Then, stretching his right hand 
toward the brigade, Father Corby pronounced the words of the general 
absolution, '' Doininjis noster Jesus Christus vos absolvat, et ego, auc- 
toritate ipsiiis, vos absolva ab vinculo excotumunicationis et inierdicti in 
quantum possum et vos indtgetis, delude ego absolvo vos a peccatris 
vesiris in nomine Patris, et fiUs, et Spiritus Sanctus. Amen ! " The 
scene was more than impressive, it was awe-inspiring. Nearby stood 
Hancock, surrounded by a brilliant array of officers, who had gathered 
to witness this very unusual occurrence, and while there was profound 
silence in the ranks of the Second Corps yet over to the left, out by the 
peach orchard and Little Round Top, where Weed, Vincent and Hazlett 
were dying, the roar of the battle rose and swelled and re-echoed through 
the woods, making music more sublime than ever sounded through 
cathedral aisles. The act seemed to be in harmony with all the sur- 
roundings. I do not think there was a man in the brigade who did not 
offer up a heartfelt prayer. For some it was their last, they knelt there 
in their grave clothes — in less than half an hour many of them were 
numbered with the dead of July 2d. Who can doubt that their prayers 
were good ? What was wanting in the eloquence of the good priest to 
move them to repentance was supplied in the incidents of the fight. 
That heart would be incorrigible indeed, that the scream of a Whitworth 
bolt, added to Father Corby's touching appeal, would not move to 
contrition. 

The maps published by the Government made the time of Caldwell's 
Division moving to the left at 4 o'clock. I think this is a mistake. 
I believe it was nearly five o'clock before we started. The division 
moved off by the left flank and marched rapidly. We had hardly got 
under way when the enemy's batteries opened and shell began falling 
all around us. The ground on which this division faced the enemy on 
the afternoon of the 2d had already been fought over, and the fields and 
woods were strewn with killed and wounded. 

Our division moved from its position on Cemetery Ridge without 
change of formation, each brigade being in column of regiments, the 
One Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania being the rear or left of the 
column forming the Second or Irish Brigade, each regiment of course 
moving bj' the left flank. We soon descended to the low ground, 
skirted a small run and on reaching the plowed land near Trostle's 



THE LAST MUSTER. 373 

house received a fire of solid shot from the enemy's guns then in position 
near the peach orchard, for by this time all that ground had been 
cleared of our troops and guns; still moving to the left the division 
reached the spot now known as "The Valley of Death" in front of 
Little Round Top. As we passed the road to the north of the wheat- 
field. General Hancock sat upon his horse looking at the troops. As 
Colonel Cross of the Fifth New Hampshire Regiment passed by, he said 
to him, " Cross, this is the last fight you'll fight without a star." Without 
stopping Cross 'replied, "Too late, too late, general, this is my last 
battle." Ten minutes afterwards the country lost one of the best 
soldiers in the army. Cross was dead, shot at the head of his brigade 
leading them to the charge. 

When we reached Little Round Top the division was deployed 
double-quick. Cross's Brigade deployed to the left of the wheat-field 
and moved forward as did each brigade without waiting lor the other 
brigades. Up to this moment, strange to say, not a shot was fired at our 
regiment (or more properly battalion, for we had been consolidated 
into four companies). Suddenly some one in the ranks cried out 
" there they are ! " Sure enough, not forty feet from us up towards the 
crest, behind the trees and big rocks covering that ground, was the 
enemj' ; no orders were given, but in an instant every musket on the 
line was at its deadly work. The enemj' having to rise to fire over the 
rocks, their shots for the most part passed over our heads, but as they 
exposed themselves to our men at such close quarters, armed with 
smooth-bore muskets firing "buck and ball " (one large ball and three 
buck shot), the effect of our fire was deadly in the extreme, for, under 
such circumstances, a blind man could not have missed his mark. The 
ofiicers too joined in the fray, each one emptying his revolver with 
effect. For ten minutes this work went on, our men seeming to load 
and fire twice as fast as the enemy. Now the voice of Kelly is heard 
ordering the charge ; with a cheer, a few quick strides, and we are on 
the crest among the enemy. 

Here took place a rather extraordinary scene. Our men and their 
opponents were mingled together. In charging we had literally ran 
right in among them. Firing instantly ceased, and we found there were 
as many of the enemy as there were of ourselves Officers and men of 
both sides looked for a time at each other utterly bewildered ; the 
fighting had stopped, yet the Confederate soldiers stood there facing us, 
still retained their arms and showing no disposition to surrender. At 
this moment I called out, " Confederate troops, lay down your arms and 
go to the rear ! " This ended a scene that was becoming embarrassing. 
The order was promptly obeyed and a large number of what I think 
were men of Kershaw's Brigade became our prisoners ; they held the 
left flank of their line. In front of our brigade we found that the enemy 
had suffered much more than we had. When engaged, our line was 
below theirs, as they stood on the crest of the hill. They fired down 



374 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

while our men fired upward and oiir fire was more effective. On their 
line we found many dead, but few wounded — they were nearly all hit in 
the head or upper part of the body. Behind one rock we counted five 
dead bodies. This was some of the most severe fighting our division 
had ever done. During the fight our regiment held the extreme right of 
the division, and from where we stood we could see the peach orchard, 
and none of our troops were between that point and us — a distance of 
an eighth of a mile. 

Some fifteen minutes after the fighting had ceased we dressed line 
and our men, awaiting the next event, the One Hundred and Fortieth 
Pennsylvania Volunteers of Zook's Brigade was placed in the rear and 
at right angles to m}!- command, and about the same time I noticed what 
I believed to be a column of the enemy passing through the peach 
orchard and to the rear of our division. I reported the matter to the 
brigade commander (Colonel Kelly), but I could not convince him that 
the column in question was a Confederate force, the smoke and distance 
preventing our seeing accurately. Feeling, however, uneasy and 
anxious in regard to the character of the troops I requested him 
(Colonel Kelly) to relieve me from command of my own regiment and 
allow me to take the One Hundred and Fortieth Pennsylvania VoUinteers 
over the fields and ascertain the nature of the column. He at once told 
me that I could do so. Placing Captain Garrett Nowlen in command of 
my regiment, I went back to where the One Hundred and Fortieth 
stood in line, told the officers and men my mission, learned from them 
that Colonel Roberts had been killed and that there was no field officer 
present with the command. Pointing to the column that for full ten 
minutes had been passing to our rear, I asked the regiment to follow me 
out to the peach orchard that we might learn what troops it was 
composed of. The duty demanded was of the most desperate nature. 
The command had just lost its heroic colonel and on another part of the 
field fifty of its members lay dead and two hundred wounded, and now 
an officer who was a stranger to almost every man in the ranks, asked 
them to go forward and attack, if necessary, a whole brigade of the 
enemy. Yet every man in that most noble command responded to the 
call and promptly followed me toward the advancing host*. We had 
only marched some fifty yards when the flags unfurled in the breeze 
and we saw distinctly that the moving column consisted of Confederate 
troops. Further advance was iiseless. I then requested the senior 
officer of the One Hundred and Fortieth Pennsylvania Volunteers to 
place his command on my right and so prolong our line. He started to 
do so, and moved his regiment over towards the grove (since cut down) 
on my right flank, while I walked back to my own command. At that 
moment a staff officer ran up from our left and in a very excited manner 
called out " that we were surrounded and to fall back and save as manj' 
of our men as possiVjle." Looking to the left I discovered that, with 
the exception of the One Hundred and Fortieth and the men of my own 



THE LAST MUSTER. 375 

regiment, all the division had gone.- 

Whilst the One Hundred and Fortieth Pennsylvania Volunteers 
deserves the highest praise for volunteering in a most desperate duty, 
yet the truth of history compels me to record the fact that that regiment 
did not fight on the right of the division, neither did it hold the right of 
the division line for a single instant during the fight. When the regiment 
came up and went into position to my rear (the spot is marked by a 
monument erected by the survivors some years ago) the firing had been 
over for at least fifteen minutes and the prisoners sent to the rear. Not 
a shot was fired on that part of the field after the One Hundred and 
Fortieth came there and when, by my request, the command moved 
over to the grove (since cut down) on my right, there was no division 
there, as at that moment everything had gone to the rear except that 
regiment and my own. We were still on the ground because we 
happened to be the last to receive the orders to retreat. 

I have thought proper to make this statement about the One 
Hundred and Fortieth Pennsylvania Volunteers because a second 
monument has been recently erected on the field of the second day's 
fight, which purports to mark the spot where it fought, but it is as far 
from correct as the inscriptions upon it. 

When I got back to my own command I quickly told the men of the 
danger and for each one to look to his own safety, pointing out the 
direction they were to take towards Little Round Top. I rolled up the 
colors and with some thirty men ran down through the woods and into, 
the wheat-field ; here we were in a trap, a line of the enemy was 
advancing on the wheat-field from the south and Wofford's Brigade, 
the column I had seen marching around the peach orchard and into our 
rear, was closing in from the north, we caught it from both sides, the 
slaughter here was appalling, but we kept on, the men loading and 
firing as they ran, and by the time we had reached the middle of the 
field the two lines of the enemy were so close that for a few moments 
they ceased firing on us, as they fired into each other. Then I heard 
voices calling out, "come here, run this way ; " a few seconds more and 
I was over a low stone wall and among Sweitzer's Brigade, about ten of 
my command were with me, other were saved, many by running into 
Ayres's Division as it advanced. I went back to the Taneytown road, I 
there found Colonel Brooke, Fifty-third Pennsylvania, commanding 
brigade, sitting on his horse, he was all alone ; he asked me where the 
division was. I could give him no information. He directed me to 
plant my colors there in a field so the division might be collected 
together which was done, and the remnants of "Caldwell's Division" 
again got into fighting shape. 

I am aware that this is not a pleasing narrative of the withdrawal of 
the First Division from the second day's fight at Gettysburg, nor is it 
in accord with the numerous " official " regimental reports, which speak 
of " retiring in good order," "slowly falling back," and other such 



376 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

terms, more flattering than truthful. 

Passing through this alley of death in the wheat-field, where the 
bullets came in showers, we got away with a large part of the division, 
but the loss was terrible. In the half hour we were under fire fourteen 
hundred men were lost. Of the four brigade commanders, two were 
killed— General S. K. Zook and Colonel E. E. Cross. Zook fell almost 
at the first fire and Cross a few minutes afterwards. 

Some of the men who fell in the wheat-field during the retreat of 
this division and were forced to lie there between the two fires, fared 
badly. One man of our regiment fell shot through the leg, and while 
he lay there was hit five or six times. When it became evident that we 
had to fall back, our wounded, with visions of Belle Isle and Libby 
before them, begged piteously to be taken along — many of them 
keeping with us wholly unaided. 

General Buford says of the first day's fight : "There seemed to be 
no directing head." This might be applied to the fighting on the left 
on the second day. If there was any directing head it was not especially 
visible. Until toward dark the fight had certainly gone against us, and 
the battle had extended along the line to the right, almost half way to 
the cemetery. The evening and our prospects grew dark together. 
The Third Corps had been driven back, broken and shattered, its 
commander wounded and carried from the field, the troops that had 
gone to its support fared no better, and every man felt that the situation 
was grave. 

However, all was not j-et lost. Meade had again thought of 
Hancock, and. as yesterday he sent him to stop the rout of the First 
and Eleventh Corps, so to-day he orders him to assume command on 
the left. Once more he is in the field. A half hour of daylight yet 
remains, but it is long enough to enable him to rally some of our 
scattered troops, face them once mere to the front, gather reinforce- 
ments, drive back the enemy and restore our broken lines At Waterloo, 
Wellington petitioned God for " Night or Blucher". At Gettysburg, on 
this evening, we had no Blucher to pray for. Our whole force was up ; 
but, while omitting the last part of the great Engli-shman's prayer, we 
had every reason to adopt the first portion. As the fight was closing 
upon the left of our army Ewell was striking a terrific blow on the 
right. As we reformed our division on the Taneytown road, and we 
had some difficulty in getting things in shape after the rough handling 
we had received, we heard, away to the right and rear, the yells of 
Evi^ell's men as they rushed over our works at Culp's Hill. This was 
the most anxious hour of all. We had been driven on the left, and on 
the right the enemy had effected a lodgment in our works, in one of our 
strongest positions, and were, in fact, in our rear, without any adequate 
force to oppose them. Another hour of daylight and, unless ^some 
miracle had intervened, we would most likely have left Gettysburg 
without waiting to bid the inhabitants good evening. But, fortunately 



THE LAST MUSTER. 377 

for us, there was no Joshua around Lee's headquarters, so the sun went 
down on almanac time, utterly regardless of the little troubles we were 
trying to settle. Darkness fell upon the scene and prevented the 
Confederates from taking further advantage of their success, giving us 
chance to repair our disasters. 

Few of us slept during that night. Our division went back and was 
put in position on Cemetery Ridge by General Hancock, who, all the 
night long, labored to strengthen this line. The men gathered rocks 
and fence-rails and used them to erect a light breastwork. Had the 
necessary tools been distributed to the troops, we could have intrenched 
this line and made it formidable, but we could not find a pick or a 
shovel, and the works that we did attempt were very light, scarcely 
sufficient to stop a musket ball. During the whole night mounted officers 
galloped to and fro, and troops were hurried to important points. At 
the first faint gray of the morning of July 3 the fight was resumed on 
Culp's Hill, where darkness had interrupted it the night before, and from 
then until about 11 o'clock the fire was heavy and incessant. We knew 
that Slocum was tr\-ing to drive the enemy out of our works which thej' 
had slept in and occupied without invitation the night before. Culp's 
Hill was about a mile from where we lay, and we could hear the cheers 
of Geary's men, which came to us on the morning air, mingled with 
bullets which had missed the mark for which they were intended and, 
almost spent, went singing over our heads. As the day advanced sounds 
of the artillery mingled with the musketry, and we knew that a hard 
fight was in progress. The men of our line almost held their breath 
with anxiet)-. About 11 o'clock the firing suddenlj- ceased. A tre- 
mendous cheer went up, and a minute later every man in the army 
knew we were again in possession of Culp's Hill. Then came two 
hours of peace — a perfect calm. 

It was a warm summer day and from Round Top to Culp's Hill 
hardly a sound was heard, not a shot fired. The men rested after the 
fighting of the previous evening, no troops were moving to or fro, the 
only activity seen was the stretcher-bearers taking the wounded to the 
field hospitals, but during those two hours we could see considerable 
activity along Seminary Ridge. Battery after battery appeared along 
the edge of the woods. Guns were unlimbered, placed in position, and 
the horses taken to the rear. Our men sat around in groups and 
anxioush' watched these movements in our front and wondered what it 
all meant. Shortly after i o'clock, however, we knew all about it. 
The headquarters's wagons had just come up and General Gibbon had 
invited Hancock and staff to partake of some lunch. The bread that 
was handed around — if it was eaten — was consumed without butter, 
for, as the orderly was passing the latter article to the gentlemen, a 
shell from §eminar\- Ridjie cut him in two. Instantly the air was filled 
with bursting shells ; the batteries that we had been watching for the 
last two hours going into position in our front did not open singly or spas- 



378 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

modically. The whole hundred and forty-seven guns which now began' 
to play upon us, seemed to be discharged simultaneously, as though by 
electricity. And then for nearly two hours the storm of death went on, 
I have read many accounts of this artillery duel, but the most graphic 
description by the most able writers falls far short of the reality. 
No tongue or pen can find language strong enough to convey any idea 
of its awfulness. Streams of screaming projectiles poiired through the 
hot air falling and bursting everywhere. Men and horses were torn 
limb from limb ; caissons exploded one after another in rapid succession, 
blowing the gvmuers to pieces. No spot within our lines was free from 
this frightful iron rain. The infantry hugged close the earth and sought 
every shelter that our light earthworks afforded. It was literally a 
storm of shot and shell that the oldest soldiers there— those who had 
taken part in almost every battle of the war — had not }'et witnessed. 
That awful rushing sound of the flying missiles which causes the firmest 
hearts to quail was everywhere. 

At this tumultuous moment, we witnessed a deed of heroism, such 
as we are apt to attribute only to knights of the olden time. Hancock, 
mounted and accompanied by his staff. Major Mitchell, Captain Harry 
Bingham, Captain Isaac Parker and Captain E. P. Brownson, with the 
corps' flag flying in the hands of a brave Irishman, Private James 
Wells, of the Sixth New York Cavalry, started at the right of his line 
where it joined the Taneytown road, and slowly rode along the terrible 
crest to the extreme left of his position, while shot and shell roared 
and crashed around him, and every moment tore great gaps in the ranks 
at his side. It was a gallant deed, and withal not a reckless exposure 
of life, for the presence and calm demeanor of the commander, as he 
passed through the lines of his men, set them an example which, an 
hour later, bore good fruit and nerved their stout hearts to win the 
greatest and most decisive battle ever fought on this continent. For 
two hours our batteries replied vigorously and then ceased altogether ; 
but the Confederate shells came as numerously as ever, then, for ten 
minutes, not a soul was seen stirring on our line — we might have been 
an army of dead men for all the evidence of life visible. Suddenlj^ the 
enemy stopped their fire, which had been going on for two hours 
without intermission, and then the long lines of their infantry — eighteen 
thousand strong — emerged from the woods and began their advance. 

At this moment silence reigned along our whole line. With arms 
at a " right shoulder shift ", the division of Longstreet's Corps moved 
forward with a precision that was wonderfully beautiful. It is now our 
turn, and the lines that a few moments before seemed so still now 
teemed with animation. Eighty of our guns open their brazen mouths, 
solid shot and shell are sent on their errand of destruction in quick 
succession. We see them fall in countless numbers among «ihe advanc- 
ing troops. The accuracy of our fire could not be excelled, the missiles 
strike right in the ranks, tearing and rending them in every direction. 



THE LAST MUSTER. 379 

The One Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment was supporting Sterling's 
Second Connecticut Battery, the men lying in front of and between the 
pieces; it was marvelous, the rapidity and accuracy with which these guns 
were served. The ground over which the enemy have passed is strewn 
with dead and wounded. But on they come. The gaps in the ranks are 
closed as soon as made. They have three-quarters of a mile to pass, 
exposed to our fire, and half the distance is nearly passed. Our gunners 
now load with canister and the effect is appalling, but still the}' march 
on. Their gallantry is past all praise — it is sublime. Now they are 
within a hundred yards. Our infantry rise up and pour round after 
round into these heroic troops. 

At Waterloo the Old Guard recoiled before a less severe fire. But 
there was no recoil in these men of the South — thej' marched right on as 
though they courted death. They concentrate in great numbers and strike 
on the most advanced part of our line. The crash of the musketry and 
the cheers of the men blend together. The Philadelphia Brigade occupy 
this point. They are fighting on their own ground and for their own 
State, and in the bloody hand-to-hand engagement which ensues the 
Confederates, though fighting with desperate valor, find it impossible to 
dislodge them — they are rooted to the ground. Seeing how utterly 
hopeless further effort would be, and knowing the impossibility of 
reaching their lines, they attempt to retreat, and the battle is won. To 
the left of the Philadelphia Brigade we did not get to such close quar- 
ters. Our eager gaze was i:pon Pickett and his murderous reception by 
the Philadelphia Brigade, but now right in our own front Wilcox's and 
Perry's Brigades are seen coming straight for our line, every musket is 
tightly grasped and our men become impatient to begin their work, but 
the orders are to hold the fire, and it took all the officers could do to 
keep the men from firing. But the enemy are coming nearer, and as 
the welcome order is sounded down the line " ready ", the air becomes 
filled as though b}' a great flock of white pigeons ; it was the fluttering 
of hundreds and hundreds of white rags, the tokens of surrender, and 
Wilcox's and Perry's men throw down their arms and surrender ; as the 
mass of the enemy come into our lines, some few spirits, bolder than 
the rest, run back to their own lines, our men being prevented from 
firing on them for fear of killing the prisoners. 

Five thousand prisoners were sent to the rear, and we gathered up 
thirty-three regimental standards in front of the Second Corps. The 
remaining hours of daylight during this day were occiTpied in caring 
for the wounded, looking over the field and talking over the incidents 
of the fight. Many noble ofiicers and men were lost on both sides, and 
in the camp hospital they died in hundreds during the afternoon and 
night. The Confederate General Armistead died in this way. As he 
was being carried to the rear he was met by Captain Harry Bingham, of 
Hancock's staff, who, getting off his horse, asked him if he could do 
anything for him. Armistead replied to take his watch and spurs to 



380 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

General Hancock that they might be sent to his relatives. His wishes 
were complied with, General Hancock sending them to his friends at the 
first opportunity. Armistead was a brave soldier with a chivalric pres- 
ence, and came forward in front of his brigade waving his sword. He 
was shot through the body and fell inside of our lines. Some of the 
wounded Confederates showed considerable animosity toward our men. 
One of them, who lay mortally wounded in front of the Sixty-ninth 
Pennsylvania, sullenly refused to be taken to the hospital, saying that 
he wanted to die right there on the field where he fell. The scene after 
Longstreet's charge was indescribable. In front of the Second Corps 
the dead lay in great heaps. Dismounted guns, ruins of exploded cais- 
sons, dead and mutilated men and horses were piled up together in 
every direction. 

Out on the field where Longstreet's Corps had passed thousands of 
wounded were lying. We had no means of reaching these poor fellows, 
and many of them lay there between lines until the morning of the 
5th. The Confederates could be seen moving around on Seminary 
Ridge. Welcome supplies came up and w^ere issued. All hands felt 
cheerful, but a degree of uncertainty as to whether the battle was over 
or whether the enemy were getting ready for some new movement, 
prevented us from celebrating the national anniversary in a proper 
manner. Once in a while the sharpshooters would try their skill on 
some of our people to let us know they were still there. The stench 
from the dead became intolerable, and we tried to escape it by digging 
up the ground and burying our faces in the fresh earth. 

On the morning of the 5th we found the enemy had gone, and then 
what a scene. I think the fact was first discovered by the troops on 
Culp's Hill, and what a cheer went up ; a cheer that swelled into a roar 
and was taken up by the boys on Cemetery Hill, rolled along the crest 
to Round Top and then back again. Cheers for the Philadelphia 
Brigade that stood a living wall against which the hosts beat in vain. 
Cheers for Meade, the soldier "without fear or reproach," who here 
began with a great victory his illustrious career as commander of the 
Army of the Potomac. Cheers for Hancock, who had stemmed the tide 
of defeat on the first day and selected the ground on which this glorious 
victory was achieved, who, on the second day had again stopped the 
tide of defeat and restored our shattered lines, and on the third day had 
met and repulsed the final assault on which Lee's all was staked, and 
won the battle that was the death-blow to the Rebellion. 

On the morning of the 5th of July, I went out in front of our line 
to wash at a small run when I came across our picket line ; they were 
New York troops, I think the One Hundred and Eleventh Regiment ; 
about forty of them lay dead in a regular line, just as they had been 
posted, caught between the two fires, not a man seems to have escaped. 

In the battle of Gettysburg we were but a small battalion of one 
hundred and sixty-five officers and men, and lost thirty-seven killed and 



THE LAST MUSTER. 381 

wounded ; most of these were lost on falling back through the wheat- 
field on the evening of the second day's fight, but in that fight the dead 
and wounded Confederate troops found lying behind the rocks when we 
charged and captured the wooded crest, proved to us that we inflicted a 
much greater loss upon them than they upon us. 



ADDRESS OF LIEUTENANT EDMUND RANDALL. 

(COMRADES : Twenty-seven years ago this month we " broke camp" 
for the first time. As we filed out of those beautiful woods to the 
■^ Lancaster Pike, just beyond Hestonville on the outskirts of 
Philadelphia, with light hearts and elastic steps we started on that 
eventful three years' march, our destiny and destination then unknown. 
Kind Providence hid from our sight the bloody tracks we were to make 
over many fields in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Our death 
roll was started ere we left the precincts of our deserted camp, and, oh, 
how quickly it was filled ; that holocaust at Fredericksburg on December 
13, 1862, added to it the names of forty-four gallant comrades, the first 
to receive their furloughs on the battle-field, which truly took 
them home. 

Some of us fell out of the ranks early on this march. Some, driven 
by distress, sought the shelter of the hospital, from which they emerged 
broken down, a few of them still stalking among us like living 
wrecks ; some weak and exhausted returned to their homes, others 
among you with stout hearts tramped the unmeasured miles of that 
great march which led you through Charlestown, through the di.smal 
and bloody fields of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, where your 
hearts sickened by defeat and misfortune almost to despair, to the 
glorious field on which we now stand. Oh, what memories cluster 
around this hallowed spot ! Here in July, 1863, you planted your 
standard, and, like MacGregor of old, your "foot was on your native 
heath," and you could not be conquered ; from here still onward you 
marched ; never again defeated, though sometimes repulsed, receiving 
heavy blows and many bloody wounds, until April, 1865, brought you 
out of the dismal woods, and you at length beheld the glorious sunrise 
at Appomattox shed her golden rays upon your tattered standard 
crowned with victory. Oh, what a victory, the like of which the world 
had never witnessed, a victory shared even by our enemies, for with 
them have you shared its fruits, a country, saved and united. How 
different would it have been had we failed at Gettysburg. Georgia, 
New York, South Carolina, Virginia and Pennsylvania, would have 
been, if not hostile, at least foreign States and strangers to each other. 
This would have been a continent of inharmonious States, and not an 
American citizen upon it. We took no prisoners, inflicted no punish- 
ments, but having triumphed, invited our foes to sit with us and enjoy 



382 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

the banquet our valor had prepared. Where in history can such 
magnanimity be paralleled ? 

Comrades, we would not now change this condition of affairs if it 
were possible, yet, standing here upon this historic spot, to dedicate this 
monument to the memory of our comrades who paid the forfeit of their 
lives that our country might not perish, let us not forget that there is 
unhappily in some parts of this land a feeling ripe that would belittle 
your victory here by undue praise of your foes, whom, in the charity of 
our hearts, we have forgiven. Yet look you around here at these stones 
and tree stumps, behind which, on July 2, 1863, lurked armed enemies 
who shot the life of many of our comrades away, comrades to whom this 
day we dedicate this granite monument. Forgive them we do, and 
time's merciful hand may even blot their crime from memory. Yet 
praise them never, while this monument tells of martyred men and the 
glorious cause for which they died. 

Comrades, there were many others who started with us on that 
march from Jones's woods who neither left the ranks nor yet returned 
with you to Philadelphia in June, 1865, when you furled your colors 
and returned them, unsullied, to the State which gave them in your 
keeping three years before. Where are these comrades ? "The good, 
the brave, the best of all ; they fought the good fight through, stripped 
off their armor and stepped behind the veil that hides us from our God. 
Yea, on every field, from Fredericksburg to Appomattox, our comrades 
of the One Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment can be found sleeping 
beneath the sod. 

Here we are to-day, comrades, twenty-seven years older than when 
we started on our three years' march, the designs of Providence now 
unfolded, and we alone of that strong column are left surviving, it may be 
questioned whether our lot has been the happiest. Our comrades went 
down in honor, how grand was the fate of those who gave up their lives 
for their country. Generations yet unborn shall sing their praises. 
So long as this country shall exist, so long shall the memory of our 
dead comrades be honored and glorified. Without the blood of our 
forefathers in 1776, this free country would never have sprung from the 
womb of time. Without the blood of our comrades, its life would have 
been trampled out by the Rebellion of 1861. 

How happy should we feel that we have been spared to assemble 
here to-day to dedicate this monument to the memory of the fallen 
brave ; it is the last and only act we can do for them. 

Comrades, our work is done ; yet a little while longer we must linger 
here in camp, watching and waiting day by day, as one or the other of 
us weary of this life's long march, unsling our knapsacks and fall out to 
rest with our comrades sleeping here. It will be but for a day in time's 
calendar when the adjutant of the Lord shall sound the last call which 
will assemble us all together again to hear the Lord of Hosts call the roll 



THE LAvST MUvSTER. 383 

■of the just. Oh, comrades, may we be all upon the right hand and hear 
the voice of our great Captain, Christ, proclaim "all present and 
accounted for." 

And now, during this Christmas time of 1895, the 
writer brings the record of the One Hundred and Sixteenth 
Pennsylvania Volunteers to a close. 

His heart goes out to every member of the regiment, 
living or dead ; to every lonely grave on the Blue Ridge 
and on the Rappahannock's banks where angels guard the 
mouldering form of the hero who still remains at his post, 
and whose sacred ashes mark the line of the picket where 
he stood on guard, and fell, the true and faithful sentinel 
of thirty years ago. 

His heart is filled with sweet recollections of all the 
dear comrades, memories sad and tender of those who are 
no more and happy in the warm affection of those who are 
still enjoying the blessings of the land they helped to save. 

In the fond hope of meeting one and all again, '' fare- 
well ", or, rather, "good night", for believing that He 
who even " marks the fall of a sparrow " will grant great 
reward to everyone who did well in helping to preserve 
the Union of States, thus saving the American Continent 
to freedom and liberty, the writer lives expecting to meet 
again with all the noble souls who marched and fought in 
defense of the flag of the One Hundred and Sixteenth 
Regiment ; and so, as the evening of life draws near, the 
shadows fall, and the hour approaches for the final " taps". 
In the hope of the glory of that last reveille which shall 
find us united in an eternal bivouac, my comrades, one 
and all, " good night ". 



384 THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 

It is to be greatly regretted that this roster of the 
regiment is very incomplete ; more than four hundred 
names will be found unaccounted for. Many of these were 
killed, others died of disease or wounds or in Southern 
prisons. Every effort has been made by the writer to 
complete the record of each man, but the only source from 
which the information could be obtained is closed, as the 
following letter will show, and there is no other means 
available. The roster, as it appears here, was made 
principally from memory of those present at the muster out 
of the command and was hurriedly made more for the 
purpose of mustering those present at that time than 
accounting for those absent. 

Washington Citv, June 19th, 1893. 

To THE Adjutant-General 

OF THE State of Pennsylvania, 
Harrisbvirg, Pa. 

Sir: Referring to your letter of the 14th inst. , received to-day, 
in which you enclose rolls of the One Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteers, and request that such information relative to the final 
record of the members of said regiment as is lacking from those (some 
three hundred in number) whose names appear on said rolls, be 
supplied from the official records on file in this Department, for use in 
publishing a history of that command, I am directed by the Secretary 
of War to invite your attention to the enclosed copy of orders dated 
February xyth, 1S92, which sets forth the rule of the Department 
relative to requests of this nature. Under this rule it becomes necessary 
to deny all requests for information for personal or historical purposes, 
and it is regretted that the information you desire cannot, therefore, be 
furnished. 

The rolls submitted by you are herewith returned. 

Very respectfully, 

F. C. AINSWORTH, 
Colonel United States Army, 

Chief Record and Pension Office 



ROSTER 

116TH REGIMENT, PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS. 



Field and Staff Officers, 



Dennis Heenan 



St.Clair A. Mulholland., 



Colonel 



Colonel 



Richard C. Dale Lieut. Col 

David W. Megraw do 



( icorge H. Bardwell ...Major. 



John k. Miles... 
( larrett Nowlen. 



Louis J. Sacriste.. 



Adjutant 
do.... 



.do. 



Thomas S. Ewing . 



David S. Bunnell... 
Richard H. Wade. 



John P. Ashcom 

William B. Hartman. 



John W. Rawlings., 



.Q. M. 
....do.. 



Surgeon 
do.... 



Asst.Surg 



DATE OF 

MUSTER INTO 

SERVICE. 



Sept. 1, 1862 



Sept. I, 1862 



April 14, 1864 
April 14, 1864 



Sept. I 1862 

July 3, 1862 
Aug. 2. 1862 

March i, 1863 



Oct. 15, 1864 

June 20, 1862 
Aug. 8, 1862 



Sept. I, 1862 
March 9, 1862 

July 15, 1862 



REMARKS. 



Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62 
— honorably discharged by reason of con- 
solidation of regiment to a Battalion of four 
companies, Jan. 27, 1863. 

Lieut. -Col., Sept., 1862 — Major of Battalion, 
Feb. 27, 1863 — Col. of reorganized regiment. 
May 3, 1864 — Brevet Brig. -Gen., for services 
in Wilderness campaign — Brevet Maj. Gen. 
for capturing Confederate fort in front of 
Petersburg, Oct. 27, 1864 — Congress medal 
of honor for distinguished services on the 
piclcet line at Chancellorsville, May 4, 1863 
— wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13. 

1862, at Wilderness, May 5, 1864, at Po 
River, Va., May 10, 1864, and at Totopoto- 
my, Va., IVtay 31, 1864 — honorably disch. by 
reason of termination of war, June 3, 1865. 

From Lieut. -Col. 123d Regiment, Pa. Vols. — 
killed at Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864. 

From Capt., Co. H, to Major, Jan. 28, 1865, 
to Lieut. Col., June 6, 1865 — wounded at 
Five Forks, Va., March 31, 1865 — ^honorably 
discharged by reason of termination of war. 
July 14, 1865. 

Brevet Lieut. Col. and Brevet Col. for services 
at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862 — 
wounded at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862 — 
honorably discharged by reason of consolida- 
tion of regiment into battalion, Jan. 27,1863. 

Wounded at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862 — 
resigned Feb. 16, 1863. 

Promoted from 2d Lieut., Co. G, Feb. 27, 1863, 
to Capt., Co. D, Nov. 21, 1863, Brevet Maj. 
— wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 
1862 — killed at Reams Sta.,Va., Aug. 25, '64. 

Promoted from ist Lieut , Co. D, Nov. 21. 

1863, to Capt., Co. D., Sept. 22, 1864 — 
wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, 1864. 
Brev. Maj. for gallant service during the war 
— Congress medal of honor for distinguished 
service on the picket line at Bristoe Station. 
Va., Nov. 14, 1863 — transferred to Regular 
Army at close of the war. 

Wounded at F'ive Forks, Va., May 31, 1865 — 

mustered out with regiment at close of war. 
Resigned January 26, 1863. 
Promoted from Quartermaster Sgt., Jan. 27, 

1863 — mustered out with the regiment at 

close of war. 
Honorably discharged March iq. 1863. 
Promoted from Asst. Surgeon, July 4, 1863 — 

honorably discharged at close of war. 
Promoted to Surg., of 88th Penna. Infantry, 

Feb. 3, 1863. 



386 



THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 



NAME. 


RANK. 


DATE OF 

MUSTER INTO 

SERVICE. 


H 

B 

2 
1 

< 
a 


REMARKS. 


Philip A Boyle 


Asst.Surg. 
do 


Sept. I, 1862 
Oct. I, 1864 
Sept. 24, 1862 
Nov. 18, 1864 
Aug. 14, 1862 
Sept. 5, 1862 
Aug. 30, 1862 
Aug. 5, 1862 
Aug. 14, 1862 

July 19, 1862 
Feb. 13, 1864 
July 16, 1862 
June 22, 1862 
Feb. 29, 1864 
June 16, 1862 
Aug. 18, 1862 


3 

3 

3 
3 
3 

I 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 


Resigned February 28. 1863. 




Resigned October 18. 1864. 


Rev. Edward McKee 

Rev. Bernard McCollum 
William J. Burk 


Chaplain 
'Sgt. Maj'.' 


Resigned December 24, 1862. 
Honorably discharged at close of war. 
Promoted to ist Lieut., Company C. 




Promoted to ist Lieut., Company B. 




do 


Promoted to 2d Lieut., Company A. 


Samuel D. Hunter 

George McMahon 

Francis E. Crawford 


.... do 

Q. M.Sgt. 

do 

do.... 


Promoted to 2d Lieut., Company F. 

Promoted to 2d Lieut., Co. B, April 8, 1864 — 
prisoner of war from May 10, 1864 until Feb., 
1865 — honorably discharged at close of war. 

Promoted to ist Lieut., Co. B, March 7, 1863. 




Com. Sgt. 

do 

do 




Patrick Costello 

Charles Shelly 


\ Honorably discharged at close of war. 




Hos. Std. 
Prin. Mu. 













Company A. 



Patrick Carrigan 


Captain 


Oct. 25, 1862 


3 


Discharged by special order, Jan. 27, 1863. 


Seneca G. Willauer 


do 


Aug. 26, 1862 


3 


Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 62 
— promoted from ist Lt. Co. C, March i, '63 
— transferred as ist Lieut, to 24th reg. Vet. 
Res. Corps, Feb. 5, '64 — to 6th reg., April 
25, '64 — promoted to Capt. nth reg., Dec. 3, 
'64 — Brev. Maj., March 13, '65 — discharged 
October 30, 1867. 


William M. Hobart 


do 


June II, 1862 


3 


Promoted from ist Lieut., March i, 1864 — 
discharged Jan. 2, 1865. 


George Halpin 


do 


Aug. 30, 1862 


3 


Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2 1863— 
prisoner from July 2, '63, to April 11, '65 — 
promoted from ist Sgt. to ist Lieut., April 
14, '65 — to Capt., May 15, '65 — mustered out 
with company, June 3, 1865. 




2d Lieut. 


Sept. 5, 1862 


3 


Promoted trom Sergeant, Oct. 25, '62 — killed 




at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. 




do 


Aug. 30, 1862 


3 


Promoted from Sgt. Major, March i, 1863— 






Oct. 28, 1863, dismissed. 


Thomas Detweiler 


do 


Aug. 4, 1862 


3 


Wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 16, 1864 — 
prom, from Sgt. — com. ist Lieut., Jan. 23, '65 
mus. out with company, June 3, '65. 


William Emsley 


do 


Aug. 13, 1862 


3 


Promoted from ist Sgt. June i, '65 — mustered 










out with company. 


Ambrose O. Wilson 


Sergeant 


June 24, 1862 


3 


Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 


Josiah C. Randolph 


do 


July 16, 1862 


3 


Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 


do 


Aug. 14, 1862 


3 


Promoted from Corp., May i, 65 — mustered 






out with company, Jime 3, 1865. 


Charles Gallagher 


do 


July 29, 1862 


3 


Not on muster-out roll. 




do 


July 26, 1862 


3 


Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863— 






discharged October 13. 1863 




do.... 


Aug. II, 1862 


3 


Detailed on staff of Gen. Meagher— mustered 






out with company. 




do 


Aug. 28, 1862 
June 30, 1862 


3 
3 


Drowned in Acquia Creek, Va., May 1, 64. 


William Nichols 


Corporal 


1 


Nathan Adams 

Mathias Landrican 


do 

, do 


July 29, 1862 
July 25, 1862 


3 

3 


> Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 


Daniel Price.„ 


do 


Aug. 2, 1862 


3 


J ^ ,. . 




do 


June 18, 1862 


3 


Promoted to Corp., May i, 65 — mustered out 






with company, June 3, 1865. 


Jacob A. Coble 


do 


Sept. 5, 1862 
July 31, 1862 


3 
3 


Not on muster-out roll. 


William C. Andress 


do 


Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62 










— not on muster-out roll. 



i^HR^E YEARS' SERVICE. 



387 



NAME. 


RANK. 


DATE OF 

MUSTER INTO 

SERVICE. 


W 

g 

1 

< 

> 


REMARKS. 




Corporal 

Musician 

do 

Private 
do 

do. 


July 31, 1862 

July 7, 1862 
June 28, 1862 
Aug. II, 1862 
June 28, 1862 

Aug. 4, 1862 
Aug. 14, 1862 

Aug. 8, 1862 
Sept. 5, 1862 
Aug. 12, 1862 
Feb. 29, 1864 

July 8, 1862 

Aug. 28, 1862 
July 14, 1862 
Aug. 18, 1862 
Aug. 19, 1862 
Aug. 16, 1862 

xMay 12, 1864 
Aug. 21, 1862 
Aug. 28, 1862 

Aug. 4, 1862 

Aug. 28, 1862 

Aug. 18, 1862 
Aug. 6, 1862 
Aug 15, 1862 
Feb. 20, 1864 
July 31, 1862 
Sept 5, 1862 
Aug. I, 1862 
July 21, 1862 
June 13, 1862 

Aug. 13, 1862 
June 15, 1862 
Aug. 12, 1862 
Aug. 12, 1862 

Aug. 8, 1862 
Feb. 28, 1864 
Aug. 18, 1862 

Aug. 23, 1862 
June 24, 1862 

Mar. 25, 1864 
Aug. 14, 1862 
April 6, 1864 
Aug. 19, 1864 

Feb. 24, 1864 
Feb. 24, 1864 
Aug. 20, 1862 
Aug. 5, 1862 


3 

3 
3 
3 
3 

3 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 

3 
3 

3 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 

3 

3 
3 
3 

3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 


Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, '63 — not 
on muster-out roll. 




Robert Henry 


Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
Deserted July 7, '63 — returned May i, '65 — 
transferred to Co. K, June 2, '65. 


AUingham, Robert 




do 


Died December, 1863, of wounds received at 
Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863. 

Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 

Promoted to Sergeant Maj. — date unknown. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Transferred to V. R. C— disch. by G. O.— 
date unknown. 

Discharged for wounds received at Gettys- 
burg, Pa., July 2, 1863. 

Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 

Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 

Not on muster-out roll. 




do.. 


Book, George M 


do 


Bidding, Augustine 


do 

do 


Brocklehurst, Robert 


do 

do 




do... . 


Carroll, Alexander 


do 

do 




do 


Captured at Bristoe .Station, Va., Oct. 13, '63 
— died in prison. Belle Island. 


Clark, Hugh 


do 


Delhi, Jacob H 


do 


Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 

Wounded at Gettjsburg, Pa., July 2, 1863 — 
mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 

Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863 — 
transf. to 51st Co., 2d batt. V. R. C., Nov. 15, 
'63 — disch. Aug. 5, '65 — exp. of term. 

Wounded at Chancellorsville.Va., May 3, and 


Dunn, John 

Devonshire. Jeremiah 


do 

'J" 

do 


Dobbins, John W 


do 

do 


at Gettysburg, Pa. July 2, '63 — disch. by 

General Order, June 26, 1865. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Died at Petersburg, Va., Oct., 1864. 




do.. 


Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 


Edwards, Thomas 

Eisenhower, Fred 


do 

do 

do 


Transferred to Co. K, June 2, 1865. 
Mustered out for disability, Dec, 1863. 




do 


Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 


Giltman, John 


do 

do 


Discharged by General Order, Nov. 14, 1865. 
Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863 — 




do 


died Nov. 2, 1864, — buried in Poplar Grove, 
National Cemetery, Petersburg, Va., div. D, 
sec. C, grave, 80. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 


Harman, Wm. H 


do 

do.. 


Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 


Hibbs, Joseph H 


do 


Transferred to 53d company, 2 batt. V. R. C. 


Howe Wm. H 


do... 


— disch. by General Order, Nov. 22, 1865. 
Executed — date unknown. 




do 


Transferred to Co. K, June 2, 1865. 


Hendricks, Jonas M 


do 

do 


Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863— 

not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 




do 


Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863 — 




do 


transferred to Co. D, nth reg. V. R. C. — 
discharged by General Order, June 28, 1865. 
Not on muster-out roll. 




do 


Not on muster-out roll. 


Johnson, Charles 

Kite Wm S 


do 

....do.. .. 


Not on muster-out roll. 

Transferred to V. R. C. — discharged by Gen- 




do 


eral Order, June 27, 1865. 
Transferred to Co. K., June 2, 1865. 




do 


Transferred to Co. K., June 2, 1865. 




do 


Discharged by General Order, June 9, 1865. 




do 


1 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 






' 



388 



THE STORY OF THE h6th RECIMENT. 



NAME. 


RANK. 


DATE OB 

MUSTER INTO 

SERVICE. 


H 

n 

S 

1 

•< 
a 
> 
w 


REMARKS. 




Private 
do 


Aug. 21, 1862 
Aug. 22, 1862 

June 13, 1862 

Aug. 22, 1862 
Mar. I, 1864 
Aug. 30, 1862 
July 30, 1862 
Aug. 19, 1862 
July 31, 1862 
July 29, 1862 
Mar. I, 1864 
Aug. 23, 1862 

Aug. 30. 1862 
July 9, 1862 
Aug. 8, 1862 

July 7, 1862 
Aug 23, 1862 
Aug. 29, 1862 
Aug. 12, 1862 

Feb. 12, 1864 
Mar. 8, 1864 
July 30, 1862 

Aug. 18, 1862 
Aug. 4, 1862 

Aug 12, 1862 

Aug. 30, 1862 
June 16, 1862 
Aug. 9, 1862 

Aug. 16, 1862 
Feb. 17, 1864 
June 13, 1862 
Aug. 22, 1862 
Aug. 20, 1862 
July 26, 1862 
Feb. 8, 1864 
Aug. 22, 1862 
Aug. 8. 1862 
Aug. lb, 1862 


3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 

3 
3 

3 
3 

3 
3 
3 

3 
3 

3 

3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 

\ 

3 
3 

\ 

3 




Moser, William 






do 


Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa.. July 2, 1863 — 

absent, in hospital, at muster out. 
Discharged by General Order, June 26, 1865. 
Transferred to Co. K, June 2, 1865. 


Mills, Charles 


. do 




do 




do 


Mickle, John B 


do 






. .. do 






do 


Killed at Gettysburg, Pa.. July 2, 1863. 
Mustered out with company. June 3, 1865. 
Discharged by General Order, June 26, 1865. 
Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va , Dec. 3, '62 

—mustered out with company. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 

1862 — not on muster-out roll. 


McNamara, Matthew 

McDonald, John 


.. .. do 

do.. 


McCarter, Wm 

McNulty, Bernard 

McSorley, Patrick 


do 

do 

do 

. do 




. . do 




....do 




Porter, Charles 


do 

do 


Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 

Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 20, 1863 — 
mustered out with company, July 3, 1865. 

Transferred to Co. K, June 2, 1865. 

Transferred to Co. K, June 2, 1865, 

Wounded and captured at Gettysburg, Pa., 
July 2, 1863 — ab. at Camp Parole, Annapo- 
lis, Md., at muster out. 

Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 

Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 
1862., and at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2,1863 — 
mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 

Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., iJec. 13, 
1862, and at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863 — 
not on muster-out roll. 

Not on muster-out roll. 




do 


Ryan, John 

Sacriste, Sebastian 

Sickles, Charles 


do 

do 

do 

do.. . 




do 


Strechaboc, Jacob 


do 

do 


Stephenson, Robert J 

Twelves, Stephen 


do 

do 

do.... 


Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863 — 

not on muster-out roll. 
Discharged by General Order, May 27, 1865. 
Transferred to Co. K, June 2, 1865. 




do 


Turner, George 

Verill, John 


do 

.... do.. 


Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863. 




do 


Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
Transferred to Co. K, June 2, 1865. 


Whitaker, Warren 

Webb, Wm. H 


do 

do.... 


Wade Richard H 

Woodward. John 


do 

do 


Promoted to Q. M. Sergt — date unknown. 
Missing in action, Oct. 12, '63 — died in prison 
at Belle Island. 



Company B. 



Thomas A. Murray 


Captain 
do 


Sept. I, 1862 
Sept. I, 1862 

July 19, 1862 

Aug. 23, 1862 
Aug. 5, 1862 


3 
3 

3 

3 
3 


Discharged by General Order, Jan. 27, 1863. 

Promoted from ist Lieutenant Co. H, Mar. 7, 
1863 — discharged April 15, i3b3. 

Promoted from M Sergeant to ist Lieu- 
tenant, Mar. 7, 1863 — Captain, Nov. 25, 1863 
— wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3 1864 
— captured at Reams Station, Aug. 25, 1864. 
— mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 

Resigned March 7, 1863. 

Discharged Oct. 6, 1862. 


Francis E. Crawford 


do 

do..„.. 


Timothy J. Hurley 


ist Lieut. 



tHREE YEARS' SERVICE. 



389 



NAME. 


RANK. 


DATE OF 

MUSTER INTO 

SERVICE. 


H 

1 

•< 
n 

> 


REMARKS. 






Sept. s. 1862 
Aug. 23, 1862 


3 Promoted from Sergeant Major, Nov. i, 1862 

— discharged Jan. 26. 1864. 
3 Promoted from 2d Lieutenant, Mar. 7, 1863 — 

discharged Mar. 10, 1863 — died of wound re- 


Robert T. Maguire 


do 



Thomas McKnierht. 



.do ! July 12. 1862 



Henry D. Price [ ad Lieut. 

I'homas A. Dorwan I do 

Wm. O'Callagan \ do — 

I'homas J. Murtha ist Sgt. 

Benjamin F. Groves 1 Sergeant 



July 5. 1862 

Aug. 21, 1862 
Aug. 15. 1862 



July 24, 1862 
Aug. 4. 1862 



John H. McCuUough., 
James E. Craig. . . . 



do Aug. 15, 1862 

.do July 22. 1862 



Daniel Connelly .... 

Daniel Reen 

Augustus Lindsay , 
Charles Bishop .. .. 



James Davies 

Lawrence J. Coates. 
Jacob W. Adams 



James A. Carlin.... 

John H. Rowen .... 
James M. Moore.... 

John Farley 



Henry Adams 

Charles Porter 

Anderson. S. P , 

Austin, Charles 

Anderson, William. 
Bishop, Charles 



I'U, William H. 



Bentley, George W.. 

Bennett, James 

Birely, Isaac 

Bagshaw, Walter .. . 
Blackburn, John .... 
Brooks, William H.. 

Black, Theodore 

Bowlin, Michael 



.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
do. 



Corporal 

do 

do 



.do. 



.do. 
.do. 



.do. 



Musician 

do 

Private 

do.... 

do...., 

do...., 



Brennan. Dom. C... 
Chambers, William. 



Cannon, Bernard... 
Cummings, James . 



.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
..do. 
.do. 
,.do. 

..do. 
..do. 

..do. 
..do. 



Aug. 12, 1862 j 3 
July 16, 1862 3 
Aug. 12, 1862 I 3 



July 21, 1862 
Aug. 19, 1862 
Aug. i8. 1862 

Aug. 18, 1862 

Aug. 6, 1862 
Aug. 16, 1862 

Aug. 14, 1862 

June 26, 1862 
Aug. 29. 1862 
July 5, 1862 
July 7, 1862 
July 10, 1862 
June 30, 1862 



Aug. 7. 1862 



June 27, 1862 
Aug. 2, 1864 
Aug. 28, 1862 
Aug. 18. 1862 
Aug. 12, 1862 
Aug. 12, 1862 
Aug. 22. 1862 
Aug. 23, 1862 

Aug. 28, 1862 
Aug. 13, 1862 

Aug. 4, 1862 
Aug. 24, 1862 



ceived at Fredericksburg — date unknown. 
3 Promoted trom Sergeant. February 3, 1864 — 

discharged July 30. for wounds with loss 

of hand, received at Petersburg. Va., June 

16. 1864 — re-commissioned Dec. i. 1864 — 

mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
3 Promoted from ist Sergeant to 2d Lieutenant, 

Sept. 2, 1862 — to ist I,ieutenant Co. C, Mar 
i I, .863. 
3 I Promoted to 2d Lieutenant, Mar. 19, 1863 

cashiered Jan. 7. 1864. 
3 Promoted trom Sergeant to 2d Lieutenant, 

Mar. 1,1864 — to ist Lieutenant Co. I, May 

2, 1864. 
3 ' Mustered out with company, June 3. 1865. 
3 Commissioned 2d Lieutenant Co. E, June i. 

1865 — not mus. — mustered out with com- 
1 pany, June 3. 1865. 
3 ] Mustered out with company June 3, 1865. 
3 I Commissioned 2d Lieutenant company G, 

June I, 1865 — mustered out with company. 
I June 3. 1865. 
3 Discharged by General Order, May 18, 186 s. 
3 Promoted to Com. Sergeant, Jan. 29, 1863. 

Transferred to U. S. Navy, Mar., 1864. 
I Wounded at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864 — mus- 
tered out with company. June 3, 1865. 
3 I Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
3 ! Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
3 I Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., Jime 2, 1864 — 

mustered out with company, June 3. 1865. 
3 Wounded at Reams Station. Va., Aug. 25. 

1864 — mus. out with company, June 3, 1865. 
3 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
3 Promoted to Corporal, Jan. 1, 1865 — mustered 

out with company, June 3, 1865. 
Promoted to Corporal. Jan. i, 1865 — mustered 

out with company, June 3, 1865. 
3 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
3 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
3 Disch'd on Surgeon's certificate. May, 1864. 
3 Not on muster-out roll. 
3 'J'ransferred to Co. C, Jan. 26. 1863. 
3 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va. , Dec. 13. 
j 1862. and at Five Forks. Mar. 31, 1865 — ab. 

in hospital at muster out. 
3 ] Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 

12, 1864 — discharged on Surgeon's certificate 

— date unknown. 
3 Transferred to Vet. Res. Corps — date unknown 
3 Transferred to Co. H, June 2, 1865. 
3 Disch'd on Surgeon's certificate. Dec. 1863. 
3 Disch'd on Surgeon's certificate, Feb. 7, 1863. 
3 Transferred to Co. C. Jan. 26, 1863. 
3 Disch'd on Surgeon's certificate, Nov., 186^. 
3 I Not on muster-out roll. 
3 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va.. Dec. 13, 

1862 — transferred to Co. C, Jan. 26, 1863. 
3 Pr. to ist Lieut. 69th Pa. Vols., June, 1863. 
3 Wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 3, 1864 — 

mustered out with company June 3, 1865. 
3 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
3 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 



S90 



THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 



Clark, William 

Carter 

Collar, John 

Collins, Henry M 

Clifford, Charles 

Clements, William 

Carroll, James 

Clause. Philip 

Collins, Charles 

Cocklin, William 

Casey. Patrick 

Campbell. James , 

Coggins, Bartholomew., 
Clark, John 



Cummings, Benjamin . 

Chambers, William.... 

Chambers, James 

Davison, George 

Daisley, Thomas 



Delaney, Matthew... 
Dennison. Edmund.. 

Deener, Henry 

Dugan. Hugh 

Daley, James 

Doublebower. F. T.., 

Delaney, Fenton 

Deveney, Michael..., 
Dempsey, John 



Decamp, William.... 

Elliott. George 

Elleman. Philip H. , 

Erwin, Edward 

Emrich, Harry 

Fisher. Andrew 

Fagan, Edward . 



Frise, John.. 



Gasper, Henry 

Gibbons. Richard 

Gilbert, Stephen 

Gibson, William 

Gray, James 

George, John 

Gray, Thomas 

Gaflfney, Francis 

Hughes. T^ewis W 

Hill, John 

Hunt. David M 

Hamsbury, Joseph S.. 
Henderson, Joseph.... 
Hevener, Jonas D 



Haley, James 

Haas, Henry 

Higgins, James B. 

Haley, William 

Hurley, Dennis 

Isaacs, George..^.. 
Jones, William S... 

Joyce, Patrick 

Jordan, James 



DATE OF 

MUSTER INTO 

SERVICE. 



.Private. 
....do.... 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....do.... 
... do.... 
....do.... 
....do.... 
...,do.... 
....do.... 
....do.... 
....do.... 



Aug. 7, 1862 



Aug. 18, 1862 
Aug. 13, 1862 
Feb. 23, 1864 
Aug. 23, 1862 
Feb. 18, 1864 
July 7, 1862 
July 22. 1862 
Aug. 9, 1862 
Aug. 7, 1862 
Aug. 9, 1862 
Aug. 25, 1862 
Aug. 29, 1862 



.do. 



.do. 

do. 

.do. 
do. 



.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 

..do. 
.do. 
,.do. 
.do. 
,.do. 
..do. 
..do. 

..do. 

..do. 
..do. 
..do. 
..do. 
. do. 
..do. 
..do. 
..do. 
..do. 
..do. 
..do. 
..do. 
..do. 
..do. 



,do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 



July 9. 1862 

Feb. 9. 1864 

July 9, 1S62 

July 14, 1862 

Aug. 13, 1862 
June 28, 1862 
July 5, 1862 
July 14, 1862 
July 29, 1862 
Aug. 21, 1862 
Aug. 21, 1862 
Aug. 23, 1862 
Aug. 23, 1862 

Aug. 30. 1862 
Aug. 2, 1862 
Aug. II, 1862 
Aug. 10, 1862 
Aug. 22, 1862 
June 14, 1862 
Aug. 23, 1862 

July 29, 1862 

Aug. 14, 1862 
Feb. 4, 1864 
Jan. 28, 1862 
July 7. 1862 
July 14, 1862 
July 17, 1862 
Aug. 2, 1862 
Aug. 18, 1862 
June 14, 1862 
Aug. 13, 1862 
Sept. 3, 1864 
Feb. 5, 1864 
Feb. 21, 1864 



July II, 

July 23. 

June 25, 
July 26, 
Sept. 28, 
May 9, 
July 22, 
Aug. 25, 
.\ug. 25, 



1862 
1862 
1862 



Absent, in hospital, at muster out. 

Buried at Winchester, Va. 

Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 

Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 

Transferred to Co. H. June 2, 1865. 

Disch'd on Surgeon's certificate. May, 1863. 

Killed at Petersburg. Va.. June 16, 1864, 

Transferred to Co. C, Jan 26, 1863. 

Transferred to Co. C. Jan. 26. 1863. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Wounded at Fredericksburg. Va., Dec. 13, 

1862 — discharged — date unknown. 
Died Sept. 3. 1864 — buried at Cy. Hill Ceme- 
tery, L. I. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Mustered out with company, June 3. 1S65. 
Wounded at Cold Harbor. Va.. June 2, 1864 — 

discharged by General Order, June 29, 1865. 
Disch'd on Surgeon's certificate. Mar., 1863. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Transferred to Co. C, Jan. 26. 1863. 
Transferred to Co. C. Jan. 26, 1863. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 27, 1863. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec, 13, 

1862 — discharged April 19, 1864. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
Mustered out with company. June 3. 1865. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Absent, in hospital, at muster out. 
Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 18, '64 

— wounded at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, '62. 
Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62 

— not on muster-out roll. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
Transferred to Co. H, June 2, 1865. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Transferred to Co. C, Jan. 26, 1863. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Transferred to Co. C. Jan. 26, 1863. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
Transferred to Co. H, June 2, 1865. 
Disch'd on Surgeon's certificate, Feb. i, 1865. 
Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 

18, 1864 — discharged on Surgeon's certificate, 

Feb. 10, 1865. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Transferred to Co C. Jan. 26, 1863. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Transferred to Co. C. Jan. 26, 1863. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Transferred to Co. C, Jan. 26. 1863. 
Not on muster-out roll. 



THREE YEARS' SERVICE. 



S^l 



Jones, Francis 

Keenan, Francis E. 

Kelly. John 

Klyse, Henry 

Keyser, Charles 

Lincke, Henry 



Lutz, Jacob 

Little, William H.. 



Lenci, Augustus 

Laudenschlager, G. 



Leguin, John S 

I.andrican. Matth's., 

Lehman, John 

Mooney, Owen J 

Murray, John 

Monahan, James 

Manneeley, Wm 



Mabuerry, Isaac M 

Mink, Andrew J , 

Mallon, Daniel 

Morrow, Robert , 

Melville. Wm. B 

Marks. James , 

Mooney, Wm. W 

Martin, Manuel 

M'Mullin, John R 

M'Mahon. George 

M'Hugh, James , 



M'Cuen, John 

M'Grath. John 

M'Coy, James 

M'Cann, Bernard... 
M^Gurk. William.... 
-M'Guigan, Francis., 
M'Laughlin, Pat 



Private 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 



do. 
.do. 



.do. 
.do. 

.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 



..do. 
..do. 
...do. 
..do. 
..do. 
..do. 
..do. 
..do. 
. do. 

..do. 
..do. 



do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

M'Nulty, Michael ! do. 

M'Millin. John ' do. 

Oliver, Abraham I do . 

Porter, William do . 



Parker. John do. 

Pilkington, John do. 

Porter, Aubrey Sr do. 



Polly, John., 



Pilgen, Adam 

Pryor, Michael 

Price, Daniel 

Price, William 

Parker, William 

Ryan. John 

Rutherford. Thos 

Richmond, Samuel (.',. 



Russell, John. 
Rogers. John.. 
Ryan, James.. 
Sally, Patrick. 



.do. 
do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 

.do. 
do. 
.do. 
.do. 



DATE OF 

MUSTER INTO 

SERVICE. 



Aug. 30 

Aug. 19 
Aug. 12 
Aug. 13 
Aug. 23 

July 22; 

Aug. 15 
July 



Aug. 12 
Mar. 22 

Aug. 19 

July 25 
July 22 
Aug. 20, 
Aug. 14 
Aug. 20 
Aug. 9; 



Aug. 18 
Jan. 13 
July II 
July 21 
Aug. II 
Aug. II 
Aug. 14, 



Aug. 29 

Aug. 14 
July 2 

June 21 
July S 
July 5 
July 28 
Aug. 6 
Aug. 12 
Aug. 23, 
Aug. 23; 



Aug. 
Aug. 20 

July 19 
Aug 12 
Sept. 15, 

Apr. 14 

July 23 
July 29 
Aug. 2 
Aug. 18 
Aug. 18 
Aug. 18 
Aug. 14 
Aug. 18 

June 24 
June 14 
May 9 
July 7 



1862 
1862 



1862 



1862 
1862 



[862 



1862 
1862 



1862 
1862 



1862 
1862 
1862 



REMARKS. 



Not on muster-out roll. 

Discharged by special order, June 17, 1864. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Transferred to company C, Jan. 26, 1863. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863 — 

mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
Captured at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 

12, 1864 — absent, at Camp Parole, Annapolis. 

Md.. at muster out. 
Transferred to V. S. Navy, April 12, 1864. 
Transferred to Vet. Reserve Corps. Apr. 15, '65 

discharged by General Order, July 22, '65. 
Killed at South Side R. R , Va.. April 2. '65. 
Transferred to company A — date unknown. 
Transferred to company C. Jan. 26, 1863. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va.. June 2. and 

at Reams Station, Aug. 25. '64 — mustered 

out with company, June 3. 1865. 
Discharged on Surgeon's certificate. Mar. '63. 
Transferred to company H, June 2, '65. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Transferred to company C, Jan. 26, '63. 
Died at Philadelphia, Pa., July iq, '63. 
Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, '64 — 

absent, in hospital, at muster out. 
Promoted to Q. i\L Sgt.. Jan. 27, '63. 
Died at Frederick, Md., July. 1863 — burial 

record. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Transferred to company C, Jan. 26, '63. 
Not on muster-out roll. 

Promoted to ist Lt. company G. April 4. '64. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Transferred to company C, Jan. 26, '63. 
Wounded at Wilderness. May 5, '64. 
Mustered out with company. June 3, '65. 
Wounded at Gettysburg. Pa.. July 2, 1863— 

mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
-Absent, in hospital, at muster out. 
Absent, in hospital, at muster out. 
Wounded at Five Forks. Va.. March 3i,_'65 — 

discharged by General Order, May 3, '65. 
Wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864 — 

transferred to company H, June 2, '65. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
Transferred to company C, Jan. 26, '63. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Absent, in hospital, at muster out. 
Discharged on Surgeon's certificate. Mar. '63. 
Missing in action at Spottsylvania C<nirt 

House. Va.. May 12. '64. 
Not on muster-out roll. 

Killed at Fredericksburg. Va., Dec. 13, '62. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va.. June 2, '64 — 

mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 



392 



THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 



DATB OP 

MUSTER INTO 

SERVICE. 



REMARKS. 



Search, Francis 

Sperling, Frederick., 

Shields, James 

Stokes, Charles 

Scott, Patrick 

Shields, John 

Steenbury, Charles.. 

Smith, Di.xon 

Stewart, Robert 



Sharpe, Morris.. 



Standring, John 

Stein, Louis 

Stein, John 

Smith, William S 

Smith, Thomas 

Spain, Patrick 

Scott. James 

Sanderlon, Benj 

Spence, Michael 

Thomas, Alonzo C... 

Tracy, Francis 

Vaughan, Joseph 

Vanderslice, And 

Vanloan, George W. 



Watling, Charles 

Wright, John 

Whildin, Matthew.. 

Wells, Edward 

Wilbur, Oscar 

Young, William 



Private 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 



July 24, 1862 
Aug. 13, 1862 
Aug. 15, 1862 
July 14, 1862 
Aug. 13, 1862 
Mar. 26, 1864 
Feb. I, 1865 
Mar. 29, 1864 
Apr. 15, 1864 



do ' July 18. 1862 



.do. 
.do. 

do. 

do. 
.do. 
.do. 

do. 
.du. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 

.do. 

.do . 

.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
do. 
■ do. 



July 21, 1862 
July 1, 1862 
July 12, 1862 
July 28, 1862 
July 21, 1862 
July 31, 1862 
Aug. 2, 1862 
Aug. 14, 1862 
Aug. 30, 1862 
Apr. 14, 1864 
Aug. 19, i86!> 
.\ug. 6, 1862 
.A.ug. 18, 1862 
Feb. 4, 1864 

Aug. 6, 1862 
Aug. 7, 1862 
Aug. 9, 1862 
Aug. 22, 1862 
Aug. 30, 1862 
Aug. 19, 1862 



Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
Mustered out with company, Jitne 3, '65. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
Tr. to 115th reg. Ohio Vols., Feb. 13, '63. 
Transferred to company H, June 2, '65. 
Transferred to company H, June 2, '65. 
Discharged by General Order, June 7, '65. 
Wounded at Totopotomy, Va., May 31, '64 — 

transferred to company H, June 2, '65. 
Transferred to company B, 22d reg. Vet. 

Reserve Corps — wounded at Fredericksburg 

— discharged by General Order. July 3, '65. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Transferred to company C. Jan. 26, '63. 
Transferred to company C. Jan. 26, '63. 
Transferred to company C. Jan. 26, '63. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Transferred to company C. Jan. 26. '63. 
Transferred to company H, June 2, '65. 
Transferred to Battery A. 4th U. S. -Artillery. 
Mustered out with company, Jime 3, '65. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
Wounded in action, Sept. 25, '64 — discharged 

by General Order, May 15, '65. 
Died at Beverly, N. J., April 14. '65. 
Transferred to Co. C, Jan. 26, '63. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Transferred to Co. C, Jan. 26, '63. 



Company C. 



John Teed i Captain 

Henry D. Price '■ do.... 

William J. Burk j do.... 



Seneca G. Willauer., 
Thomas Gray 



John B. Parker... 
Wm. H. Tyrrell , 



1st Lieut. 
do 



2d Lieut. 
do 



.do. 



Abraham L. Detweiler. 

Wm Chambers j ist Sgt. 

Wm. H. Bibighaus do. 



Aug. 26. : 

July 5- 

Aug. 14, 

.■\ug. 26, 
Aug. 2, 



Aug. 26, 
Aug. 12, 



Aug. n, 

Ju'y 9. 
Aug. 15, 



1862 
1862 
1862 



Captured at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863 — 
com. Major, April 8, 1864— not mustered — 
hon. disch. on acct. of disability, Nov. 28,'64. 

Pr. from 2d Lieut. Co. B, to ist Lieut. Co. C. 
March i, '63 — to Capt., Co. C, April 8, '64 — 
Brev. Maj. — kil'd at Petersburg, Oct. 27, '64. 

Captured at William's Farm, Va., June 22, '64 
— promoted from Sgt. Maj. to ist Lt., Jan. 
28, '65 — to Capt., Feb. 13, '65 — mustered out 
with company, June 3, '65. 

Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62 
— promoted to Capt. Co. A, March i, '63. 

Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2. 1863 — 
promoted from Sgt., Feb. 13. 1865 — mustered 
out with company, June 3, 1865. 

Resigned March 21, 1863. 

Promoted from Sgt. Co. K, May i, 1863 — 
transferred to Vet. Res. Corps, Aug. 12, '63 
— wounded at Fredericksburg. 

Pr. to Cor.— to Sgt. — to 2d Lt., Nov. 9, '63 — 
com. ist Lt., April 8, '64 — wd. near Peters- 
burg, Va., June 16, '64 — disch. Dec. 23, '64. 

Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, '64 — 
com. 2d Lt., June i, '65 — not mustered — 
absent, in hospital, at muster out. 

Promoted to 2d Lt. Co. D, March i,'63 — died 
Aug. 6, 1863. 



THREE YEARS' SERVICE. 



393 



NAME. • 


RANK. 


DATE OF 

MUSTER INTO 

SERVICE. 


w 
w 

i 

H 
> 
W 


REMARKS. 




ISt Sgt. 

Sergeant 
do 


Aug. 13, 1862 
Aug. II, 1862 

Aug. 14, 1862 

July 31, 1862 

Aug. II, 1862 

July 12, 1862 
July 12, 1862 
Aug. I, 1862 
Aug. I, 1862 
Aug. 12, 1862 
July 10, 1862 
Aug. ig, 1862 
Aug. 18, 1862 
Aug. 12, 1862 

Aug. 22, 1862 
Aug. 12, 1862 
Feb. 12, 1864 

Aug. 12, 1862 
July 29, 1862 

July 29, 1862 
Aug. 5, 1862 
Aug. II, 1862 
Aug. 13, 1862 
Tuly 23, 1862 
Aug. 18, 1862 
July 22, 1863 
July 7, 1862 
Aug. 18, 1862 
Aug. 12, 1862 

Aug. 8, 1862 
Aug. 25, 1862 
Aug. 22, 1862 
Feb. II, 1864 
Mar. 29, 1864 
Mar. 17, 1864 
Aug. 5, 1862 
Aug. 13, 1862 
Aug. IS, 1862 
Aug. 12, 1862 
Feb. 16, 1864 

Sept. 25, 1863 

July 25, 1862 
Aug. 4, 1862 
Aug. 12, 1862 
July 15, 1862 
Apr. s, 1864 
July 14, 1862 
Aug. 28, 1862 
July 25, 1862 
Feb. 9, 1864 


3 
3 

3 

3 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 

3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 


Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863. 

Wd. at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May i2,'64 
— disch. by General Order, June 15, '65. 

Promoted from Corporal, Dec. i, 1863 — mus- 
tered out with company, June 3, 1865. 

Wounded at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, 
1864 — promoted from Cor., Feb. 13, 1865 — 
mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 

Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va.. Dec. i3,'62 
— mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 

Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. 




Jefferson Carl 


Henry McElroy 

Anthony Matter 

Thos. M. Rowland 

Wm. H. Stewart 


do 

do 

do 

do 


Elhannan W. Price 

Franklin B. Missimer 


do 

do 

Corporal 
. . do.. 


Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. 
Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. 
Discharged by General Order, June 3, 1865. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
Prisoner from Aug. 25, '64, to May 17, '65 — 

mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, 1864 

— transferred to Co. E, June 2, 1865. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 

1862, and at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863 — 

missing at Gettysburg. 




."Andrew McLaughlin 

William Price 


do 

do 


WiUoughby F. Bickle 

John Eckart 


do 

. do.... 




do 




do 


William H. Brooks 


do 

do 




. ..do.. 


William E. Martin 


.. ..do.. 






.... do.. . 


Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. 




do 


Michael B. Schaffer 


do 

.. do.. 


Not on muster-out roll. 




Musician 
do 


Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 






do 


Promoted to Principal Mus. — date unknown. 


Lewis Ritch 


do... . 


Albright, Charles 


Private 
do 


— date unknown. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 


Bowlin. Michael 




do 


Barth. Charles G 


do 

do.... 


Transferred to Co. E, June 2, 1865. 
Transferred to Co. E, June 2, 1865. 
Transferred to Co. E, June 2, 1865. 


Byarly, James 


do 


Biddle, George W 


do 






do.. 




Blankanbiler, George 


do 

do 


Not on muster-out roll. 

Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 




do 


Wounded at Five Forks. Va., March 31, '65— 


Cosgrove, Edward P 


do 

do 


transferred to Co. E, June 2, 1865. 
Drafted— wd. at Five Forks, Va., March 31, 
1865— transferred to Co. E, June 2, 1865. 




do 


Killed at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862. 




do 


Discharged by General Order, June 9, 1865. 


Deener, Henry 


do 


Absent, sick, at muster out. 


Donald, George 


do 

do 


Transferred to Co. E, June 2, 1865. 
Missed in action at Fredericksburg. 


Davisson, Theo. H 

Davis, Richard W 


do 

do 


Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 




do 


Discharged by General Order, July 24, 1865 




do 


Died Dec. 25, '64— buried in U. S. Hospital 




do 


Aug. 14, 1862 


Cemetery, Annapolis, Md., grave 139. 
Wounded at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863— trans- 






ferred to Co; B, i8th Reg., V. R. C— dis- 
charged by General Order, June 17, 1865. 



394 



THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 



NAME. 


RANK. 


DATE OF 

MUSTER INTO 

SERVICE. 


H 

n 
» 

S 
1 

-s 
n 

> 


REMARKS. 




Private 
do 

do 

do 


July 7, 1862 
Aug. 6, 1862 

Aug. 2, 1862 
Jan. 20, 1865 
June 25, 1862 

Aug. 25, 1862 
Aug. 28, 1862 
July 30, 1862 
July 30, 1862 
Aug. 2, 1862 
Aug. 5, 1862 

Aug. 5, 1862 
Aug. 27, 1862 
Aug. 25, 1862 
Mar. 18, 1864 
Aug. 23, 1862 

Aug. 28, 1862 

Aug. 13. 1862 

Mar. 16, 1864 

Apr. 17, 1864 

Aug. 5, 1862 
Aug. 13, 1862 
Aug. 27, 1862 
July 29, 1862 
Aug. 2, 1862 
Aug. 4, 1862 
Aug. II, 1862 
Aug. 14, 1862 
Aug. 5, 1862 

Aug. 18, 1862 
Aug. 23, 1862 
July 28, 1862 
Aug. 18, 1862 

Feb. 14, 1864 


3 

3 

3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 

3 


Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 

Died Dec. 29, of wounds received at Fred- 
ericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862 — buried in 
Military Asylum Cem., D. C. 

Not on muster-out roll. 


Gallagher, William 

Gliden, John 




do.. 


Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62 

— absent, in hospital, at muster out. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 


Heinman, William 


do 

do 




do.. 




Harrison, Glenn 


do 

do 


Killed at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862. 

Killed at Gettysburg. 

Died in camp after battle of Fredericksburg, 
Dec. 13, '62. 

Promoted to Sergeant-Major, Jan. 28, '65. 

Killed near Deep Bottom, Va., Aug. 14, '64. 

Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 

Tr. to V. R. C— disch. by G. O., June 7,'65. 

Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 
'62 — not on muster-out roll. 

Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 
'62 — absent, in hospital, at muster out. 

Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 
'62 — absent, in hospital, at muster out. 

Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H.,Va.. May 
12, '64 — transferred to Co. E, June 2, '65. 

Wounded and missing in action at Spottsyl- 
vania C. H., Va., May 12, '64. 


Hendricks, A. S 


do 


Hunter, Samuel D 


do 

do 




do 




.. do.. .. 




do 




do.. 




do 




do 


Kelly, Joseph 


do 

do 


Kelly, William 

Lubeck, Henry 


do 

do 

do 


Not on muster-out roll. 

Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 




do 


Killed at Fredericksburg, Va. 
Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 2, '64. 
Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. i^, '62. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, 65. 
Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 

'62 — not on muster-out roll. 
Died sud'ly near Falmouth, Va., Nov. 17, '62. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
Discharged by General Order, June 17, '65. 
Transferred to Co. B. 12th Reg., V. R. C— 




do 




do 


Mooney, William W 

Marquett, Mahlon 


do 

do 

do 


McNulty, Michael 

McCann, Bernard 


do 

do 

do 


McGranahan, James 


do 

do 


wounded at Fredericksburg — discharged by 

General Order, June 28, '65. 
Wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5, '64— 

transferred to Co. E, June 2, '65. 
Mustered out with company. 
Transferred to Co. E, June 2, '65. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Trans, to Battery A, U. S. Art'y — wiunded. 


McGinn, John H 


do 


Feb. 12, 1864 
July 29, 1862 
Aug. 18, 1862 
Feb. 25, 1864 

Aug. 23, 1862 
July 12, 1862 
Aug. 18, 1862 
Apr. 12, 1864 

Aug. 8, 1862 
Aug. 8, 1862 
Aug. II, 1862 

Aug. 16, 1862 

June 14, 1862 
Aug. 18, 1862 


3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 

3 

3 
3 


McLamara, Patrick 


do 

do 


O'Rourke, Francis 

Patrick, John M 


do 

do 


Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H.,Va., May 

12, '64 — transferred to Co. E, June 2, '65. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
Not on muster-out roll. 


Parker, John B., 2d 

Palmer, Wm. R 


do 

do 


Phillips, Frederick 

Ramick, Jacob 


do 

do 

do 


Transferred to Co. K, nth reg. Vet Reserve 
Corps — disch'd by Gen'l Order, Aug 18, '65. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 




do 


Mustered out with company, June 3, '65 — 


Roxburgh, T. W 


do 

do 


captured at Gettysburg, 
Wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 

and at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, '63 — absent, 

in hospital, at muster out. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 




do 


Wounded at PVedericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62 






— absent at muster out. 



THREE YEARS' SERVICE. 



395 



NAME. 


RANK. 


DATE OF 

MUSTER INTO 

SKRVICB. 


H 
m 

X 

S 

n 

> 


REMARKS. 


Rimby, John 

Rowland, Peter H 

Reilly, Michael 


Private 
do 

do 


Feb. 22, 

July 22, 

Aug. 15, 
Aug. 19, 
Aug. 15, 
July 21, 

July 28, 

July 31, 

Aug. 18, 

Aug. 30, 
Aug. 23, 
Aug. 13, 
Jan. 29, 

Apr. 7, 
Aug.'io, 
Aug. 11, 

July 23, 
Aug. 4, 

Aug. 7, 
Aug. 23, 
Feb. 4. 
Mar. 28, 

Aug. 5, 
Aug. 6, 
Aug. 8, 
Aug. 13, 
Aug. 19, 

Mar. 17, 
Aug. 25, 
Aug. 8, 


1864 
1862 

1862 
1862 
1862 
1862 

1862 
1862 
1862 

1862 
1862 
1862 
1864 

1864 
1862 
1862 

1862 
1862 

1862 
1862 
1864 
1864 

1862 
1862 

1862 
1862 
1862 

1864 
1862 
1862 


3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 

3 

3 
3 
3 

3 
3 

3 

3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 


Discharged by General Order, June 5, '65. 
Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, '63 — 
not on muster-out roll. 




do.. 




Smith, JohnG 


do... 


Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
Prisoner from Oct. 14, '63, to Oct. 17, '64 — 

discharged by General Order, June 9, '65. 
Mustered out with company. June 3, '65. 


Smith, Thomas 

Smith, William S 


do 

.....do.. 




do.. .. 




do 


Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. i3,'62 
— absent, in hospital, at muster out. 

Killed at Gettysburg. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 

Missing in action at Spottsylvania C. H. Va., 
May i2,'64— disch. by G. 0., June I7,'65. 

Tr. to V.R.C.— disch. by G. O., Aug. 26, '65. 




.. do.. 


Sutherland, Henry 


do 

do 




do 


Trealfall, George D 


do 

do 




do 


Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. I3,'62 

— not on muster-out roll. 
Killed at Gettysburg. 
Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H.,Va., May 

12, '64 — absent, in hospital, at muster out. 
Discharged by General Order, May 15, '65. 
Tr. to V. R. C— disch. by G. O., June 28,'65. 
Transferred to Co. E, June 2, '65. 
Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H.,Va., May 

12, '64 — transferred to Co. E, June 2, '65. 


Ulrick. Daniel 


do 


Wilt, Henry 


do 


Wright, John 


do 




do 


Wilt, George 


do 


Weadley, Henry 


do 

do .... 




do 


Transferred to Battery A, 4th U. S. Artillery. 
Missing in action at Fredericksburg. 
Died at City Point. Va., Sept. 27, '64. 
Prisoner from May 5, '64 to April 21, '65 — 

wounded at Gettysburg — discharged by 

General Order, Aug. 11, '65. 
Transferred to Co. E, June 2. '65. 
Transferred to Co. I — date unknown. 
Transferred to Battery A, 4th U. S. Artillery. 


Whiting, Stephen D 

Whitmeyer, David 

Young, William A 

Young, William 


do 

do 

do 

do 


Yocum, Joseph W 

Zellers, George 


do 

do 



Company D. 



William A. Peet , 
Garrett Nowlen... 



Captain 
do. ... 



Louis J. Sacriste.. 

Jacob R. Moore. 
Eugene Brady 



.do. 



1st Lieut. 
do.. .. 



John C. Wright.. . 
George L. Reilly., 



do.... 

2d Lieut. 



Aug. 25, 1862 
Aug. 2, 1862 



Sept. I, 1862 

Aug. 5, 1862 
Aug. 15, 1862 

July 26, 1862 
Aug. 25, 1862 



Resigned Feb. 28, '63. 

Promoted from Adj., Nov. 21, '63 — to Br- 
Maj., Aug. 25, '64 — wd. at Fredericksburg 
— killed at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, '64 
— bu. in Laurel Hill Cem., Philadelphia, Pa. 

Promoted from 2d Lieut., Co. F, to ist Lieut., 
March i,'63 — to Adjt,,Nov. 21, '63 — to Capt., 
Sept. 22, '64 — to Bv.-Maj., March 13, '65 — 
wd. at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, '64 — mus- 
tered out with company, June 3, '65. 

Detailed on staff of Gen. Birney — wounded 
at Gettysburg. 

Wd. at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, '63 — pr. fr. 
Sgt., Nov. 21/63 — killed at Five F"orks,Va., 
March 31, '65 — bur. in Cathedral Cemetery, 
Philadelphia. 

Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, '64 — 
promoted from ist Sgt., May 17, '65 — mus- 
tered out with company, June 3, 1865. 

Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 
'62 — discharged Feb. 27, '63. 



396 



THK STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 



NAME. 


RANK. 


DATE OF 

MUSTBR INTO 

SERVICE. 


H 

B 

W 

3. 
1 

<< 

X 


REMARKS. 


William H. Bibighaus 


2d Lieut. 

1st Sgt. 

do 

Sergeant. 

do 


Aug. 15, 1862 

July 10, 1862 

June 24, 1862 
Aug. 16, 1862 


3 

3 

3 

3 


Promoted from ist Sgt., Co. C, March i,'63 
— died at Washington, D. C, Aug. 6, '63 — 
bu. in Laurel Hill Cem., Philadelphia, Pa. 

Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H.,Va., May 
18, '64 — promoted from Sgt., May 17, '65 — 
mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 

Transferred to 3d Reg., U. S. Cav., June, '63. 

Wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, '63 


Richard E. Ker 


James Duffy 

James Cavanaugh 


— com. 2d Lieut., June i, '65 — not mus. 

— mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 

Wounded at Chancellorsville and discharged 


do 

do 


Aug. 20, 1862 

Aug. I, 1862 

Feb. 25, 1864 

Aug. 2, 1862 
Aug. 13, 1862 

July 16, 1862 
Aug. 2, 1862 
July 7, 1862 
June 25, 1862 
July 8, 1862 
July 30, 1862 
Aug. 22, 1862 

Aug. 4, 1862 
Aug. II, 1862 
Mar. 18, 1864 
Apr. 4, 1864 

Mar. 8, 1864 
July 15, 1862 
Apr. 27, 1864 

July 28, 1862 
June 18, 1862 
Aug. 21, 1862 
Aug. 9, 1862 

July 12, 1862 
July 7, 1862 
Aug. 6, 1862 
Aug. 5. 1862 
Aug. 22, 1862 
July 24, 1862 

Aug. 13, 1862 

July 17, 1862 
June 28, 1862 
July 10. 1862 
Feb. 26. 1864 
Feb. II, 1864 

Aug. II, 1862 
July 29, 1862 
June 28, 1862 
July 8, 1862 
Aug. 14, 1862 
July 28, 1862 

Apr. 12, 1864 


3 

3 

3 

3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
5 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 

3 
3 
3 

3 
3 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 


in consequence — date unknown. 
Captured at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, '64 
— promoted from private, March i, 1865 — 
mustered out with company. 


Peter Kelly 


do 


trans, to Vet. Reserve Corps, Jan. 7, '64. 
Wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 22, '64, 


William L. Lott 

Robert J. Fitzgerald 

Josiah C. Randolph 


do 

do 

do 

do 


and April 2, '65 — trans, to Co. I, June 3, '65. 
Killed at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, '64. 
Missing in action at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 

1863. 
Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 


Morris Stowe 


do 

do 


Not on muster-out roll. 

Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62. 




Corporal 


Mustered out with company, June 3/65. 




Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 




do 


Captured at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, '63 — 


Thomas P. Crown 

Michael J. McKenna 


do 

do 

do 


promoted to Corporal, March i, '65 — mus- 
tered out with company, June 3, '65. 

Disch on Surgeon's certificate, March 17, '63. 

Transferred to Vet. Res. Corps, Dec. 14, '64. 

Transferred to Co. I, June 3, '65 — Vet. 




do 


Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2/64 — 




do 


transferred to Co. 1. June 3, '65. 
Transferred to Co. 1, June 3, '65. 




do 


Killed at Wilderness, Va., May 5, '64. 




do 


Captured at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, '64 




do 


— died October 28, '64, in prison. 
Not on muster-out roll. 




do 


Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26. '63. 


Thomas A. Dorwart 

R. J.Stephenson 


do 

do 

do 


Transferred to Co. A — date unknown. 
Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 

'62 — transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
Not on muster-out roll. 




do .... 


Not on muster-out roll. 




do 


Not on muster-out roll. 




do 


Not on muster-out roll. 




do 


Deserted at Harper's Ferry, Oct. 29, '63. 




do 


Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, '63 — not 


Hugh McVey 


do 


on muster. out roll. 
Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, "63 — not 




Musician 

do 

do 


on muster-out roll. 
Disch. on Surgeon's certificate, March 17, '63. 


Robert Henry 


Transferred to Co. A, January 26, 1863. 


Alexander, Chas. H 


Private 
do 


Discharged by General Order, May 16, '65. 
Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, '64 — 




do 


transferred to Co. I, June 3, '65. 
Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 


Adams, Nathan 

Allinghani, Robert 

Anderson, Thomas 


do 

do 

do 

do 


Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 




do 


Transferred to 4th Artillery, Oct. 26, '62, by 


Bullinger, Christian 


do 


Order 154, U. S. A. 
Transferred to Co. I, June 3, '65. 



THREE YEARS' SERVICE. 



397 



NAME. 


RANK. 


DATE OF 

MUSTER INTO 

SERVICE. 


H 

n 

!S 

g 

1 

< 


REMARKS. 


Brown, Isaac 

Benson, John T 

Browan, Benjamin 

Bradley, Wm. T 


...Private.. 

do 

do 

.... do 


July 9, 1862 
Feb. 26, 1864 
April 8, 1864 

June 18, 1862 
June 30, 1862 
July 29, 1862 
Aug. 21, 1862 
Aug. 22, 1862 
Aug. 28, 1862 
Apr. 24, 1864 
Apr. 13, 1864 

Mar. 21, 1864 
Apr. 23, 1864 

Mar. 12, 1864 

July 14, 1862 
Aug. 18, 1862 
June 24, 1862 
July 30, 1862 

Aug. 20, 1862 


3 
3 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
.3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 

3 
3 

3 
3 

3 

3 
3 
3 

3 

3 
3 
3 

3 

3 
3 


Absent, sick, at muster out. 

Killed at Wilderness, Va., May 5, '64. 

Wounded at Po River, Va., May 10. '64— not 

on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 




do 




Bakeoven, George 

Bailey, Edward 

Burns, William 


do 

do 

do 

do 


Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 




do 


Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, Jan. ,'65. 
Wd. at Petersburg, Va., June 16, '64— tr. to 

y. R. C, Mar. 11, '65— disch. Sept. 5, '66. 
Transferred to Co. 1, June 3, '65. 
Wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 16, '64 — 

transferred to Co. 1, June 3, '65. 
Wounded at Petersburg, Va. June 16, '64 — 

transferred to Co. I, June 3, '65. 
Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Killed in Wilderness, May 5, '64. 
Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62 

— not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 


Carr, John H 


do 

do 




do 




. do 




do.... 


Campbell, William 


do 

do 


Casey, James 


do 

do.. .. 




do 


Promoted to Hos. Stew. U.S. Army, Aug. 2, '64. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
Disch. on Surgeon's certificate, date unknown. 




do 


Aug. 19, 1862 
July 30, 1862 
Aug. 29, 1862 

Feb. 12, 1864 
Apr. 8, 1864 
Apr. 22, 1864 

Aug. II, 1861 
Aug. 21, 1862 
Aug. 4, 1862 
June 28, 1862 
Aug. 29, 1862 
Aug. 4, 1862 
Aug. 15, 1862 
Aug. 29, 1862 
Apr. 4, 1864 

June 17, 1862 

June 17, 1862 
Aug. 4, 1862 

July 9, 1862 
Aug. 14, 1862 

July 30, 1862 

June 13, 1862 
June 23, 1862 
Aug. II, 1862 

Aug. 19, 1862 

Aug. 23, 1862 
Aug 15, 1862 
Mar. 25, 1864 

Apr. 4, 1864 

Mar. 6, 1865 
Apr. 24, 1864 


Duffey, John 


do 

do 


De Luar, Albert 


do.. 


Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, '63. 
Transferred to U.S. Navy, March i, '64. 
Transferred to Co. I, June 3, '65. 
Wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 16, '64 — 

transferred to Co. 1, June 3, '65. 
Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
Transferred to Co. A. Jan. 26, '63. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 


Delaney, Finton 


do 

do 


Detweiler, Tkomas 

Deihl, Jacob H 


do 

do 


Devonshire. Jere'h 

Dampman, Wm. H .. 


do 

do 

do 


EUinger, Emanuel 


do 

do 


Disch. on Surgeon's certificate. Mar. 3, '63. 
Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
Wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 16, '64 — 

transferred to Co. I, June 3, '65. 
Transferred to Battery A, 4th U.S. Artillery, 

Oct. 26, '64, Order 154. 




do 


Farrell, John A 


....do. ... 




do 




do. ... 


Garman, William 


do 

do 


Wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 22, '64 — 

discharged by General Order. June 20, '65. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
Discharged tor wounds rec. at Gettysburg, 

Pa., July 2, '63. 
Captured at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, '64 

— died at Philadelphia, Pa., Mar. 27, '65. 
Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Discharged for disability. Oct. 29, '62, at 

Harper's Ferry. 


Gallagher, Martin 

Glasgow, Matthew 


do 

do 

do 


Green, William K 


do 

do 


Hanlon, William 


do 




do 


absent, in hospital, at muster out. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
Discharged by General Order, May 26, '65. 
Wounded at "I'otopotomy. Va., May 31, '64 — 

transferred to Co. I, June 3, '65. 
Wounded at Five Forks, Va., Mar. 31, '65 — 

transferred to Co. I, June 3, '65. 
Transferred to Co. I, June 3, '65. 
Transferred to Co. I, June 3, '65. 


Harris, Francis M 


do 

... do 


Hansell, John R 


do .... 




do 




. .do 







398 



THE STORY OF THE ii6Th REGIMENT. 



NAME. 


RANK. 


DATE OF 

MUSTER INTO 

SERVICE. 


H 
M 

g 

1 

< 

n 

> 


REMARKS. 


Hilcar, Frederick 


Private 
do 


Apr. 13, 1864 
Mar. 23, 1864 


3 
3 

3 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 

3 

3 
3 

3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 

3 


Died at Wilderness, Va., May 4, '64. 

Died at Annapolis, Md., Oct. 9, '64, of wounds 
received in action at Petersburg — buried in 
U. S. General Hospital Cemetery, No. 2. 

Died Nov. 11, '64, at Salisbury, N. C., Prison. 

Captured at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, '64 
— died Nov. 5, '64. 


Huss, John 


do 


do 


Mar. 29 1864 

Apr. 12, 1864 
Aug. 12, 1862 
Aug. 13, 1862 
Aug. 18, 1862 
July 11, 1862 

July 22, 1862 
Aug. 4, 1862 

July 25. 1862 
Mar. 6, 1865 
July 29. 1862 
July 7, 1862 
Aug. 22, 1862 
July 21. 1862 
July 19, 1862 

Aug. 23, 1862 
Mar. 12, 1864 
Sept. I, 1862 
Apr. 18, 1864 

Apr. II, 1864 

Aug. 20, 1862 
Aug. 14, 1862 
July I, 1862 
Aug. II, 1862 
Aug. 18, 1862 
Aug. 9, 1862 
Aug. 23, 1862 
Aug. 22, 1862 
Aug. 28, 1862 

Aug. 15, 1862 
Aug. 7, 1862 
July 9, 1862 




do 




do 


Transferred to Co A, Jan. 26, '63. 




do 




do 




Hathaway, Wm. E 


do 

do 


Trans, to V. R. C. — wounded at Gettysburg — 
disch. on Surgeon's certificate. Mar. 14, '65. 




do 


Wounded and captured at Gettysburg, Pa., 
July 2, '63 — absent, in hospital, at muster out. 
Nlustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
Transferred to Co. \, June 3, '65. 
Transferred to Co. I, June 3, '65. 




do 




do 




do 




do 




do 






do 


Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. i3,'62 

— absent at muster out. 
Disch. on Surgeon's certificate, Feb. 16, '63. 
Disch. by General Order, May 25, '65, 
Disch. on Surgeon's certificate, teb 4, '63. 
Wd. at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 12, '64 

— transferred to Co. \, June 3, '65. 
Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, '64 — 

transferred to Co. I, June 3, '65. 
Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 




do 




do 


Lloyd. Henry 


do 

do 


Lawrence, Henry D 

Lyons, James 


do 

do 

do 


Llewellyn, Samuel 

Lawson, William S 

Lemark, Woodman 


do 

do 

do 

do 




do 






. . do 






do 


Disch. on Surgeon's cert. — date unknown. 




do 


Wd. at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, '64 — 




do 


mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
Disch. on Surgeon's certificate, Apr. 4, '63. 




do 




do 


Tr. to V. R. C.. Feb. 16, '64 — discharged by 




do.. 


General Order, June i, '65. 
Died July 22, '63, at Andersonville, (ja. — 

grave, 3,765. 
Transferred to Co. I, June 3, '65. 




do 


Apr. g, 1864 
Apr. 25, 1864 

Apr. 2, 1864 
Aug. 22, 1862 
July I, 1862 

July 5, 1862 
July 23, 1862 
Aug. 18, 1862 
Aug. 13. 1862 
July 15. 1862 
Aug. 29, 1862 
Sept. I, 1862 
July 29, 1862 
Apr. 6, 1864 

Aug. 6. 1862 

Feb. 3, 1864 




do 


Captured at Reams Station, Aug. 25, '64 — 
transferred to Co. I, June 3, '65. 




do 


Moser, William 

Malinger, Simon 

Mallon, Edward 

Murphy, John 

Mills, Jacob 

McFadden, Thos 

McGonigle, Henry 

McQuaid, Thomas 

McCullough, David 


do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 


Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
Wounded at Chancellorsville, May 3, '63 — tr. 
to Battery A, 4th U. S. Artillery, Oct. 26, '62. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
Died on way to Gettysburg. 
Absent, sick, at muster out. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 


McGovern, Edward 

McDowell, Andrew 

McMenamin, Mat'w 


do 

do 

do 


Wd. at Petersburg, Va., June 16, '64 — disch. 

on Surgeon's certificate, Apr. 4, '65. 
Wd. at Petersburg, Va., June i6, '64 — disch. 

on Surgeon's certificate — date unknown. 
Wounded at Totopotomy, Va., May 31, '64 — 

transferred to Co. I, June 3, '65. 



THREE YEARS' SERVICE. 



399 



NAME. 


RANK. 


DATE OF 

MUSTBR INTO 

SERVICE. 


H 

a 
» 
2 
1 

■< 
n 
> 


REMARKS. 




Private 

do 

do 

do 


Aug. 12, 1862 
Aug. 9, 1862 
July 3, 1862 
Aug. 23, 1862 
June 30, 1862 
June I, 1862 
Aug. 29, 1862 
June 22, 1862 
Aug. 29, 1862 
May II, 1862 

June ig, 1862 
Aug. 18, 1862 
Aug. 21, 1862 
May 4, 1864 

July 28, 1862 
July 15. 1862 
Aug. 12, 1862 
July 2, 1862 
Aug. 19, 1862 
Aug. 23, 1862 

Aug. 6, 1862 
Apr. 4, 1864 
Mar. 18, 1864 
Apr. 12, 1864 

Mar. 9, 1864 

Aug. 18, 1862 
Aug. 9, 1862 
Aug. 21, 1862 
Aug. 23, 1862 
June 16, 1862 
Aug. 4, 1862 
Aug. 16, 1862 
June 16, 1862 
Aug. 5, 1862 
Aug. 29, 1862 

Sept. I, 1864 
Aug. 7, 1862 
Aug. 7, 1862 
Apr. 9, 1864 
July 20, 1862 
Aug. 16, 1862 
Aug. 22, 1862 
Aug. 14, 1862 

Aug. 15, 1862 


3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 




McLaughlin, Mich'l 

McMahon, Thos. J 


Not on muster-out roll. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Disch. on Surgeon's certificate of disability. 

Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 


Nichols, William 


. .. do 

do 




do 


Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Feb. 7. '65. 




do 




do 


Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
Wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 22, '64 — 
transferred to Co. I, June 3, '65. 




. .do 




do 




do 




Parker, Franklin B 

Quigley, Joseph P, 

Quicksall, Wm 


do 

do 

do 


Not on muster-out roll. 

Died at Philadelphia, Pa.. Aug. 29, of wounds 
rec. at Petersburg, Va., June i6,'64— bu. rec, 
died at Portsmouth Grove, R. I., July 2, '64. 


Rushworth, George 


do 

do 


Killed at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, '63. 
Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 


Robson, William 


do.. .. 

do 


Not on muster-out roll 

Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 


Sweeney, Michael 


do 

do 


Wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 16, '64 — 

absent, sick, at muster out. 
Disch. on Surgeon's certificate. Mar. 3. '63. 
Absent, sick, at muster out. 
Transferred to Co. I, June 3, '65. 


Stone, Robert J 


do 

do 




do 


Died at Philadelphia, Pa., July 26, '64— burial 




do 


record, Sept. 4, '64. 
Wounded and captured at Petersburg, Va., 




do 


June 22, '64 — died at Andersonville, Ga., 
Sept. 30, '64 — grave, 10,091. 




do 


Missing in action at Gettysburg. 


Smith, William A 


do 

do 


Not on muster-out roll. 
Killed at Gettysburg. 




do 






do 


Disch. on Surgeon's certificate, IVIarch 17. '63. 


Twelves, Stephen 


do 

do 


Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, 1863. 


Wallace, William A 


. do 

do 


Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H.,Va., May 




do 


10, '64— transferred to Vet. Res. Corps— dis- 
charged by General Order, July 26, '65._ 
Disch. on Surgeon's certificate, Feb. 16, '63. 


Wallace, Thomas 


do 

do 


Disch. Nov. 25, '63, for wds. rec. in action. 
Disch. on writ ni habeas corpus. May 25,'63. 


Wolf. .4ugust 


do 


Absent, sick, at muster out. 


Walker, Theodore A 

Woodard, John 


do 

do 

do 


Killed at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, '63. 
Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
Not on muster-out roll. 


Walton, F. C. V 


do 


Wounded at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, '62 — 




do 


not on muster-out roll. 
Transferred to Battery A, 4th U. S. Artillery, 






Oct. 26, '62 — Order 154. 



Company E. 





Captain 

do 

do 


Aug. 23, 1862 
Mar. 3, 1864 
Mar. 3, 1864 

• 


3 
3 
3 


Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 


Michael Schoales 


Resigned May 17, '64. 

Wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5, at Cold 






Harbor, June 3, and wounded and captured 
at William's Farm, June 22, '64 — promoted 
from 2d Lt., June 13, '64— to Brevet-Major, 
March 13, '65 — discharged on Siu-geon's 
certificate, June 22, '65. 



400 



THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 



NAME. 


RANK. 


DATE OF 

MUSTER INTO 

SERVICE. 


H 
M 

sa 

S 

1 
< 


REMARKS. 


Joseph H. G Miles 


ist Lieut. 
do 


Sept. 5, 1862 
Mar. 3, 1864 
Feb. 16, 1864 

Aug. 23, 1862 


3 
3 
3 

3 

3 
3 

3 

3 
3 

3 
3 

3 

3 
3 

3 
3 

3 
3 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 
3 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 


Discharged by special order, Jan. 27, '63. 

Resigned May 17, '64. 

Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, '64 — 
promoted from Sgt. to 2d Lt., June i3,'64 — 
to ist Lt., June 9, '65 — com. Capt., June 22, 
'65 — not mus. — mustered out with company, 
July 14, '6s 

Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va,, Dec. i3,'62 
— transferred to Co. B, Jan, 26, '63. 

Promoted from ist Sgt. — killed at Spottsyl- 
vania, May 12, '64. 

Promoted to Cor., Nov. i,'64 — to Sgt., May 
I, '65 — to ist Sgt., June 9, '65 — com. 2d Lt., 
July I, '65 — not mustered — mustered out 
\yith company, July 14, '65. 




do 


Robert T. Maguire 


2d Lieut. 
do.... 




I St Sgt 
do.. . 


Feb. 25, 1864 

Aug. 15, 1862 
Feb. 12, 1864 

Feb. 12, 1864 
Feb. 13, 1864 

Feb, 18, 1864 
Feb. 15, 1864 
Feb. 20, 1864 

Feb. 12, 1864 
Feb. 12, 1864 

Aug. 5, 1862 
Feb. 15, 1864 

Feb. 15, 1864 

Feb. 12, 1864 
Feb. 17, 1864 
June 27, 1862 
June 14, 1862 
June 24, 1862 
Aug. 16, 1862 
Feb. 10, 1864 

Mar. 28, 1864 

F'eb. 10, 1864 

F'eb. 8, 1864 

F'eb. 24, 1864 

Feb. 10, 1864 
Feb. 10, 1864 

F'eb. 13, 1864 

Feb. 18, 1864 
Feb. 13, 1864 
Feb. IS, 1864 
July 7, 1862 , 




Patrick Welsh 


Sergeant 
do.. 


Wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 16, '64 — 
promoted from private. May i. '65 — mus- 
tered out with company, July 14, '65. 

Promoted from private, May i,'65 — mustered 
out with company, July 14, '65, 

Wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5, '64 — 
promoted from private, July i,'65 — mus- 
tered out with company, July 14, '65, 

Promoted to Cor., May i,'6s — to Sgt., July i, 
'65 — mus. out with company, July 14, '65. 

Wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5. '64 — 
absent, in hospital, at muster out. 

Captured at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 
12, '64 — died at Andersonville, Ga. — date 
unknown. 

Absent, wounded, at muster out. 

Captured at Petersburg, Va,, June 29, '64 — 
discharged by General Order, June 12, '65. 

Died Sept., '62. 

Promoted to Sgt., May i, '64 — discharged by 
General Order, May 31, '65. 

Promoted to Sgt., May i, '64— not on muster- 
out roll. 


John Reed 


Edward W. Desher 

Michael Cavanaugh 

John Cassidy 


do 

do 

do 


John Murray 

Henry Marshall 

Thomas Lacompte 

Henry Kelly 


do 

do 

do 

do 


Hugh Croll 


do 




do 




do.. 




.... do... 




George W. Bentley 


do 

do 


Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
Promoted to Com. Sg.., Jan. 26, '63. 


Patrick Costello 


. . do.. 




do.. . 




Corporal 
do.. . 


Promoted to Corporal. May i,'65 — mustered 

out with company, July 14, '65. 
Promoted to Corporal, May i, '65 — mustered 

out with company, July 14, '65. 
Promoted to Corporal, July i,'65 — mustered 

out with company, July 14, '65. 
Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, '64, 




Henry Dress 


do.. 


John Ellis 


do 




do.. 


and in action, Oct. i6,_ '64— discharged by 

General Order, June 2, '65. 
Promoted to Corporal, May 15, '64 — killed at 

Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, '64. 
Killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, '64. 
Died at Alexandria, Va., June 18, of wounds 

received at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, '64 — 

grave 2,181. 
Promoted to Corporal, May 15, '64— captured 

at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25,'64 — died at 

Salisbury. N. C. Nov. 13, '64. 
Pr. to Cor., June i,'64 — dis. March i,'65. 




do 


Aaron Tomlinson 

Henry Masters 


do 

do.. . 


S. G. Stotzenberg 


do 

... . do.. 




do.... 




William H. Little 


do 


Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 







THREE YEARS' SERVICE. 



401 



Daniel Connelly 
William Clark... 



Augustus Lindsay .... 

John Parker 

Francis E. Crawford. 
Thos. H. F. Brady.... 

Edward Buckley 

John Dagney 

\Vm. J. Curley 

James IMonahan 

Elberson E. Little 

Adams. George 

Allen, Thomas W 

Anderson, Nicholas... 

Allen. Charles 

Alcorn. George 

Armstrong, Wm 

Baker, John 

Barth, Charles G 

Barrett, Richard 

Byarly, James 

Braddish, Stephen .... 
Bartlett, Thomas A... 

Barker, Richard 

Brossen, Clement 

Brand, George 

Bagshaw, Walter 

Bishop. Charles 

Brosnahan, Tim 

Bowser, Levi 

Barlow, William 

Bryan, Albert C 

Brown, Joseph E 

Caldwell, James W... 

Cosgrove, Edw. P 

Curran, Patrick , 

Connelly, Austin 

Cannon, Bernard , 

Carlin, James A 

Coates, Lawrence J.. 
Cummings. James. .. 
Chambers, William..., 

Curry, Patrick 

Collins, Thomas 

Cloud, Alfred J 

Daily, Terrence 

Donald, George 

Dodd, George A 

Davis, Joseph 

Di,\on, John 

Dougherty, Samuel.. 
Davidson. George.... 

Daisley. Thomas 

Dailey, John M 

Ellis, Samuel 

Elfert, Charles 



Elliott, George 

EUeman PhiUp H. 
Essert, Charles...... 

Flynn, James 

Glotfelty, James .... 
Goggins, Peter 



Gasper, Henry., 



Corporal 
do 



do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

Musician 
.... do.... 

do 

do 

Private 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do..., 

do..., 

do..., 

do... 

do... 



.do, 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 



DATE OP 

MUSTER INTO 

SERVICE. 



864 



Aug. 12, 1862 
Aug. 7, 



Aug. 12 
July 19 
July 19, 
July 22 
Aug. 13 
Feb. 20 
Feb. 
Aug. 20 
July 
Feb. 10, 
Feb. 15 
Feb. 22 
July 
July 29 
Aug. 20 
Sept. 21 
Feb. II 
Feb. 13 
Mar. 17 
Mar. 29 
Feb. 16 
Feb. 24 
Feb. 15, 
Feb. 17 
Aug. 18, 
June 30, 
July 28 
Aug. I 
Aug. II 
Aug. 18 
June 14 
Feb. 18 
Sept. 25 
Feb. 16 
Feb. 15 
Aug. 
Aug 
Aug. 19 
Aug. 24 
Aug 
Aug. 23^ 
Aug. 
Aug. 19 
Feb. 15, 
Apr 
Feb. 20 
Feb 
Feb. 17 
Feb. II 

July 9 

July 14 
Aug. 13 
Feb. 23 
Feb. 24 



863 



Aug. 2, 1862 
Aug. II, 1862 



Feb. 16, 1864 
Feb. 24, 1864 
Feb. 20, 1864 

Aug. 14, 1862 



Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62 

— transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
Promoted to Q. M. Sgt., Jan. 26, '63. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Absent, sick, at muster out. 

Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Missingin action, Wilderness, Va., May 5, '64. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Drafted — mus. out with company, July 14, '65. 

Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 

Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 

Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 

Absent, sick, at muster out. 

Disch. by General Order, May 15, '65. 

Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., May 18, '64. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, ^63. 

Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Transferred to Battery A, 4th U.S. Artillery. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 

Drfted — mus. out with company, July 14, '65. 

Absent, wounded, at muster out. 

Discharged by General Order, June 9, '65. 

Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 

Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 

Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, ^63. 

Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 

Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Honorably discharged, disability, Dec, '62. 

Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 

Absent, sick, at muster out. 

Killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, '64. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 

Transferred to Co. B. Jan. 26, '63. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Discharged by General Order, June 10, '65. 

Killed at Wilderness, Va., May 6, '64— buried 

in Wilderness burial grounds— grave, 536, 

Sec. C, Div. B. 
Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
Died May 6, '64, at Fredericksburg. 
Absent, sick, at muster out. 
Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
Wd. at Wilderness, Va., May 5, '64— missing 

in action at Deep Bottom, Aug. 14, '64. 
Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 



402 



THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 



NAME. 


RANK. 


DATE OF 

MUSTER INTO 

SERVICE. 


a 
S 

I 
n 
> 

so 


REMARKS. 


Gravel) William 


Private 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 


July 14, 1862 
Aug. 5, 1862 
Feb. 13, 1864 
Feb. 8, 1864 

June 14, 1862 
July 17, 1862 
Aug. 14, 1862 


3 
3 

3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 


Not on muster-out roll. 


Geddis, Alexander 

Hall, Joseph 

Holter, Michael 

Hughes, Lewis W 

Holden, Thomas N 


Not on muster-out roll. 

Transferred to Vet. Res. Corps, Nov. 20, '64. 

Tr. to Co. H, i6th reg, V. R. C, Jan. 25, '65 

disch. by General Order, July 15, '65. 
Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63, 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 




, do . 


Died Jan. 15, '63, at Fredericksburg — grave, 


Johnston, Joseph W 

James, Charles 

Jard, Jacob 


do 

do 

do . 


June 14, 1862 
July 14, 1862 


16, Sec. A. Div. D. 
Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62 

— transferred to i6th reg. V. R. Corps. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Died Nov. 25, '(34. 


do 


Mar. 16, 1864 
Feb. 20, 1864 
Aug. 5, 1862 
Mar. 21, 1865 
Feb. 13, 1864 

Feb. II, 1864 

Feb. 13, 1864 

Feb. i8, 1864 

Feb. 15, 1864 

Feb. 8, 1864 
July 22, 1862 
July 28, 1862 
Feb. 22, 1864 

Feb. 22, 1864 

Feb. 24, 1864 
Feb. 18, 1864 
Feb. 23, 1864 
Feb. 16, 1864 
Aug. 20, 1862 
Aug. 14, 1862 
Aug. 13, 1862 
June 26, 1862 
Aug. II, 1862 
Aug. 14, 1862 

Aug. 16, 1862 
Feb. 14, 1864 
Feb. 14, 1864 
Feb. 5, 1864 
June 21, 1862 
Aug. 2, 1862 
Aug. 14, 1862 
Aug. 15, 1862 
Feb. 8, 1864 

Feb. 15. 1864 
Feb. 25, 1864 
Aug. 6, 1862 
Aug. 15, 1862 

June 16, 1864 
Feb. 23, 1864 
Aug. 12, 1862 
Aug. IS, 1862 
July 5, 1862 
Aug. 14, 1862 


Absent, wounded, at muster out. 


Kelly John 


do 


Not on muster-out roll. 




do 


Not on muster-out roll. 




do 


Substitute — mustered out with Co.,July I4,'65. 




do 


Wd. at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 12 and 




do 


18, '64 — absent, in hospital, at muster out 
Wd. at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 12, '64 


Lewders, Frederick 


do 

do 


disch. by General Order, May 26, '6$. 
Killed at Deep Bottom, Va., Aug. i6,'64— bu. 

in Nat. Cem , Ft. Harrison, Sec. A. grave 83. 
Cap. at Petersburg, Va., June 22, '64 — died at 




do 


Andersonville,Ga.,Aug.ii,'64 — grave, 5,314- 
Died at Washington, D. C, Dec. 25, '64 — 




do 


buried in National Cemetery, Arlington, Va. 
Not on muster-out roll. 




do 


Transferred to Co. B. Jan. 26, '63. 


Link Frederick 

Murphy, Thos., ist 


do 

do 

do 


Not on muster-out roll. 

Wd. at Wilderness, Va., May 5, '64— tr. to 

V. R. C— disch. on Surg, cert.. May 6, '65. 

Captured at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, '64 




do 


— died at Annapolis, Md., Sept. 22, '64. 
Not on muster-out roll. 




do 


Not on muster-out roll. 




do 


Not on muster-out roll. 




do 


Not on muster-out roll. 




do 


Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 


Murray, John 


do 

do 


Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
Not on muster-out roll. 




do 


Not on muster-out roll. 




do 


Transferred to Battery A. 4th U. S. Artillery. 


Middleton, Robert 


do 

do 


Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. I3,'62 

— not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 


McGranahan, James 


do 

do 


Absent, wounded, at muster out. 

Absent, on detached service, at muster out. 


McGonegal, Corne's 


do 

do 


Disch. on Surgeon's certificate, Oct. 4, '64. 
Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 




do 


Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 


McMahon, George 

McCullough, Jno. H 


do 

do 

do 


Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
Captured at Reams Station. Va., Aug. 25, '64 


O'Connor, Joseph D 

O'Rourke, Francis 


do 

do 

.. .. do 


— died at Andersonville, Ga. — date unknown 
Discharged by General Order, July 14, '65. 
Absent, sick, at muster out. 
Not on muster-out roll. 


O'Cailaghan, Wm 


do 


Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62 




do 


—transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
Absent, sick, at muster out. 




do 


Not on muster-out roll. 




do 


Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
Transferred to Co. B. Jan. 26, '63. 




do 


Parmer, Watson G 


do 

do 


Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 









Thrke years* service. 



403 



Quinn, Michael.. 
Reed, Joseph.... 



Richard, David 

Rey, James 

Roberts, William 

Russell, John 

Ryan, John 

Robson, John P 

Richmond, Sam'l G.. 
Sherlin, Patrick 



Shadle, William. 
Stuck, Peter 



Sharpe, Charles W. 

Shannon, David 

Schmid, John L 

Storm, Jacob 

Smith. Thomas 

Sperling, Fred'k.... 

Sally, Patrick 

Stokes, Charles 

Shields, James 

Sharpe, Morris 

Scott, Patrick 

Smith, Thomas H.. 
Shields, James W... 

Tharp, Chas. V 

Tomlin, George 



TuUy, Henry J 

Turpin, Wilson 

Turner, William... 
Wildoner, George.. 



Wilt, George 

Williams, William. 

Wilmer, George 

Wright, Joseph .... 



Wiley, John M. 



Wardlow, Richard.. 
Wallace, George W. 

Watling, Charles 

Warner, Henry 

Young, William 

Yard, Jacob 

Young, Silus 



Zang, Malchior . 



Private 
do.... 



do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 



.do. 

.do. 

.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 

.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
do. 

.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
,.do. 



.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 



DATE OF 

MUSTER INTO 

SERVICE. 



Aug. 5, 1862 
June I, 1864 

Feb. 15, 1864 
Feb. 10, 1864 
Feb. 10, 1864 
June 24, 1862 
Aug. 18, 1862 
June 27, 1862 
Aug. 18, 1862 
Feb. 25, 1864 

Feb. 10, 1864 

Feb. 24, 1864 

Feb. 19, 1864 
Feb. 24, 1864 
Feb. 24, 1864 
Feb. 13, 1864 
Feb. 22, 1B64 
Aug. 13, 1862 
July 7, 1862 
July 14, 1862 
Aug. 15, 1862 
July 18, 1862 
Aug. 13, 1862 
July 17, 1862 
Aug. 16, 1862 



Feb. 29, 1864 

Jan. 29, 1864 

Feb. 23, 1864 

July 19, 1862 

Feb. 23, 1864 

Feb. 4, 1864 

Feb. 15, 1864 

Feb. 24, 1864 

Feb. 16, 1864 

Feb. 24, 1864 



Feb. 13, 18 
Feb. 17, 18 
Aug. 6, 18 
June 26, 18 
Mar. 17, 18 
Feb. 13, 18 



Feb. 



REMARKS. 



Not on muster-out roll. 

Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, '64 — 

absent, in hospital, at muster out. 
Absent, sick, at muster out. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
Prisoner from Aug. 25 to Sept. 27,'64 — absent, 

sick, at muster out. 
Wounded at William's Farm,Va., June 22,'64 « X'y iJ 

— absent, in hospital, at muster out. / • "^ ' 

Wounde " 

absent. 
Discharged 



ent, m nospitai_. at muster out. 1 ■ ^ • 

ed at Wilderness, Va., May 5, '64— ^y j f g ^ 
t, in hospital, at muster out. — ' W g v JJJ'J 
rged by General Order, May 26, '65. /l%*^ 



3 i Killed at Petersburg, Va., June 16, '64 



Not on muster-out roll. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Transferred to Co. E, Jan. 26, '63. 

Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 

Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 

Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 

Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 

Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63, 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 16, '64 — 

absent, in hospital, at muster out. 
Discharged by General Order, June 17, '65. 
Killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, '04. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, '64 — 

mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
Absent, sick, at muster out. 
Discharged by General Order, May 26, '65. 
Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, '64 — 

discharged by General Order, June 2, '65. 
Capt'd at William's Farm, Va., June 22, '64 — 

died at Andersonville, Ga., Oct. 10, '64 — 

grave, 10,632. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Absent, sick, at muster out. 
Died at Washington, D. C., Nov. 25, '64. 
Wounded at Wilderness, May 5, '64 — capt'd 

and died in prison at Salisbury. N. C. 
Killed at Po River, Va., May 10, '64. 



Company F. 





Captain 
do 


Feb. 23, 1864 
Feb. 23, 1864 

July 17, 1862 
Feb. 23, 1864 
Feb. 19, 1864 


3 
3 

3 
3 
3 


Disch. on Surgeon's certificate, June 27, '64. 
Promoted from 2d Lieut., Jan. 17, '65 — disch. 




Joseph B. Kite 


ist Lieut. 
do 


by special order, June 14, '65. 


Peter H. Frailey 


Disch. on Surgeon's certificate, June 2, '64. 




do 


Wd. at Wilderness,Va., May 8,'64— pr.fr.Sgt., 






Feb. 14, '65 — com. Capt., June 15, '65 — not 
mus. — mus. out with company, July 14, '65 



404 



THE STORY OF THE 116TH REGIMENT. 



NAME. 


RANK. 


DATE OF 

MUSTER INTO 

SERVICE. 


H 

n 

w 
S. 

1 
•< 

? 


REMARKS. 




2d Lieut, 
ist Sgt. 

do 


Sept. 1, 1862 
Feb. 19, 1864 

Aug. 7, 1862 
Feb. 19, 1864 

Feb. 19, 1864 
Feb. 19, 1864 

Feb. 19, 1864 


3 

3 

3 
3 

3 
3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 
3 

3 

3 
3 

3 

3 
3 

3 
3 

3 
3 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 


Promoted to ist Lieut. Co. D, Mar. i, '63. 

Wd. at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, '64 — 
mus. out with company, July 14, '65 — Vet. 

Discharged for disability, Feb. 11, '63. 

Wd. at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, '64 — com. 2d 
Lieut., July i, '65 — not mustered — mustered 
out with company, July 14, '65 — Vet. 

Mus. out with company, July 14, '65 — Vet. 


Edward S. Kline 


Robert Scarlett 


Wm. M. Wagner 


Sergeant 
do 


Horace B. Klock 




do 




do 


with company, July 14, '65 — Vet. 
Missing in action, at Spottsylvania C.H.,Va., 

May 12, '64. 
Died, 1863, at Fredericksburg, Va. — grave, 37, 

Sec. A, Div. D, Nat. Cem., Fredericksburg. 
Promoted to Corp., July i, '64 — mustered out 

with company, July 14, '65. — Vet. 
Wounded at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, "62, 

while member of Co. K, 127th Pa Vols. — 

wd. at Deep Bottom, Aug. 18, '64 — wd at 

Five Forks, March 31, '65 — mustered out 

with company. 




do 


Levi P. Miller 


Corporal 
do 

do 


Feb. 19, 1864 
Feb. 19, 1864 

Feb. 19, 1864 

Feb. 19, 1864 

Feb. 19, 1864 

Feb. 19. 1864 

Feb. 19, 1864 

Feb. 19, 1864 
Feb. 19, 1864 

Feb. 19, 1864 

Feb. 19, 1864 
Feb. 19, 1864 

Feb. 19, 1864 

Feb. 19, 1864 
Apr. 12, 1864 

Feb. 19, 1864 
Feb. 19, 1864 

Feb. 19, 1864 
Feb. 19. 1864 

Feb. 19, 1864 

Aug. 12, 1862 
July 30. 1862 
Aug. 16, 1862 
Aug. 19, 1862 
July 12, 1862 
July 12, 1862 
Apr. 18, 1864 
Feb. 19, 1864 
Mar. 13, 1865 
Feb. 19, 1864 
Feb. 19, 1864 

Feb. 19, 1864 


William L. Hutton 


Wm. H.Webber 


do 


with company, July 14, '65 — Vet. 
Promoted to Corp., May i, '65 — mustered out 

with company, July 14, '65. 
Promoted to Corp., June i, '65 — mustered 

out with company, July 24, '65. 
Wounded at Totopotomy River, Va., May 31, 

'64 — absent, sick, at muster out — Vet. 
Captured at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, '64 

— died at Salisbury, N. C, Nov. 4, '64. 
Killed at Petersburg, Va., June 14, '64 — Vet. 
Died at Ale.xandria, Va., June 14, ol wounds 

received at Cold Harbor, June 3, '64 — buried 

in National Cemetery, Arlington. 


Franklin Wagner 


do 

. ... do 


Chris. Dieffenderfer 

Adam Wagner 

William Moser 


do 

do 

do 




do 


Dan. B. Berkheiser 


do 

Musician 
do 


Va., May 12, '64 — Vet. 
Killed at Reams Stat'n,Va.. Aug. 26,'64 — Vet. 




mus. out with company, July 14, '65 — Vet. 




Private 
do 

do 


mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
Discharged by General Order, June 16, '65. 
Missing in action at Spottsylvania C. H., 

Va., May 12, '64. 
Killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, '64, 


Adams, David M 




do 


Missing in action at Spottsylvania C. H.,Va., 




do 


May 12, '64. 
Killed at Po River, Va., May 10, '64. 




do 


Missing in action at Reams Station, Va., 




do 


Aug. 25, '64 — Vet. 
Missing in action at Po River, Va., May 10, 




do 


1864. 
Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62. 


Bright, Philip F 


do 


Not on muster-out roll. 




do 




Cummings, John 

Collins, William 

Charters, Thomas 


do 

do 

do 

do 


Transferred to Co. A. Jan. 26, '63. 
Not on muster out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 




do 




Dry William 


... do 


Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 




do 






do 


Captured at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, '64 
— died at Salisbury, N. C, Nov. 4, '64 — 
burial record, Dec. 20, '64. 

Missirtg in action at Reams Station. Va., 




do 






Aug. 25, "64. 



THREE YEARS' SERVICE. 



405 



NAME. 


RANK. 


DATE OF 

MUSTER INTO 

SERVICE. 


n 
» 

1 
< 

y 


REMARKS. 


Dohrman, John F 

Dolan, Michael 

Dyson, Freeman 

Duffy, James F 

Dougherty, Thomas 

Dougherty, Patrick 

Dempsey, James B 

Everly, Moses 

Eckman Owen 


...Private.. 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 


Feb. ig, 1864 
Aug. 5, 1864 
Aug. 6, 1862 
Aug. 16, 1S62 
Aug. 28, 1862 
Aug. 30, 1862 
Sept. 2, 1862 
Feb. ig, 1864 

Apr. 12, 1864 

Feb. ig, 1864 

Aug. 13, 1862 
.-Vug. 18, 1862 
Feb. ig, 1864 
Feb. ig, 1864 
Feb. ig, 1864 
Feb. ig, 1864 

July 30, 1862 
Aug. 9, 1862 
Sept. I, 1862 
Mar. 24, 1864 

Feb. 28. 1864 
Feb. ig, 1864 

Feb. ig, 1864 

Feb. 19, 1864 
Feb. ig, 1864 

Feb. ig, 1864 
Feb. ig, 1864 
Feb. ig, 1864 
Feb. ig. 1864 
Feb. ig, 1864 
Feb. ig, 1864 
Feb. ig, 1864 

Feb. ig, 1864 
Feb. ig, 1864 

Feb. 19, 1864 
Feb. ig. 1864 


3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 

3 

3 

3 

3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 

3 

3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 

3 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 


Mis. in action at Petersburg, Ya., June 22,'64. 
Absent, in arrest, at muster out. 
Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, '64 — 

mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 

12, '64 — tr. to Vet. Res. Corps, Jan. 27,'65. 
Killed at Totopotomy River, Va., May 31, 

'64— Vet. 
Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 


Emsley, William 


do 

do 




do.. .. 


Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
Died at City Point, Va., June 27, '64. 
Missing in action at Petersburg, Va., June 
16, '64. 




do 




do 


Fahl, Daniel 


do 


Garth JohnS 






. do 






do 




Hahn John G 


do 


Wounded at Five Forks, Va., March 31, '65 — 

wounded at Reams Station, Aug. 25, '64 — 

disch. Aug. 7, to date July 14, '65 — Vet. 
Brigade Hospital Steward — ^^mustered out 

with regiment. 
Captured at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, '64 

wounded at Wilderness — discharged by 

General Order, June 22, '65. 
Died at Brandy Station, Va., April 20, '64 — 

buried in Military Asylum Cemetery, D. C. 
Died at Annapolis, Md., Oct. 14. '64. 
Died at Washington, D. C, Sept. 13, '64 — bu. 

rec, buried in Cypress Hill Cem., L. I. 
Killed at Petersburg, Va., June 16, '64. 
Killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, '64. 
Killed at Po River. Va., May 10, '64. 
Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
Absent, sick, at muster out. — Vet. — prisoner. 


Hendricks, A. \V 


do 




. . do 




do 


Hoffman, Peramus 


do 

. ..do 




do 




. ..do 


Johnson, Joseph M 

Kramer, Francis S 


do 

do 

do 




do 




do 


Wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5, '64 — 


Kramer, Thomas S 

Koch, Isaiah 


do 

do. ... 

do 


discharged by General Order, June 27, '65. 
Died at Annapolis, Md., March 13, '65 — Vet. 
Missing in action at Reams Station, Va., 

Aug. 25. '64. 
Mustered out with company. 




do 


Wounded at Cold Harbor. 




do 


Wounded at Wilderness — mustered out with 




do 


Aug. 6, 1862 
Aug. 14, 1862 
Aug. 19, 1862 

Aug. 23, 1862 
Apr. 18, 1864 
Feb. ig, 1864 

Feb. ig, 1864 

Apr. 12, 1864 

Aug. 6, 1862 
Aug. 23, 1862 
Apr. 18, 1864 
Feb. ig, 1864 


company. 
Not on muster-out roll. 


Kelley, Henry C 


do 




Kite, William S 


do 


Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 




do 


'62 — transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
Not on muster-out roll. 




do 


Not on muster-out roll. 


Lawrence, Jeremiah 

Lahone, Jonathan 


do 

do 

do 


Mustered out with company, July 14, '65 — 
Vet. 

Wounded at Po River, Va,,May io,'64 — mus- 
tered out with company, July I4,'65. — Vet. 

Mustered out with company, July 14, '65 — 




do.... 


wounded June 16, '64. 
Not on muster-out roll. 




do.... 


Not on muster-out roll. 




do.... 


Not on muster-out roll. 




do.... 


Mus. out with company, July 14, '65 — Vet. 









m 



THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 



NAME. 


RANK. 


DATE OF 

MUSTER INTO 

SERVICE. 


H 

B 

S 

1 
< 

m 
> 

X 


REMARKS. 




Private 
do 

do 


Feb. 19, 1864 
Feb. 19, 1864 

Feb. 19, 1864 
Feb. 19, 1864 

Feb. 19, 1864 
Feb. 19, 1864 
Feb. 19, 1864 
Feb. 19, 1864 

Feb. 19, 1864 
July 26, 1862 
Aug. 22, 1862 

July 12, 1862 

Aug. 30, 1862 
July 29, 1862 
Aug. II, 1862 
Aug. 18, 1862 
Aug. 23, 1862 
Aug, 23, 1862 
Aug. 23, 1862 
Feb. 19, 1864 
July 12, 1862 
Feb. 19, 1864 
Feb. 19, 1864 

Feb. 19, 1864 

Feb. 19. 1864 

Feb. 19, 1864 

Feb. 19, 1864 
Feb. 19, 1864 

Feb. 19, 1864 

Feb. 19, 1864 

Mar. 24, 1864 
Veh. 19, 1864 

Apr. 12. 1864 

P>b. 19. 1864 
July 30, 1862 
July 26. 1862 
Aug. 8, 1862 
Aug. 14, 1862 
Aug. 22, 1862 

Aug. 30, 1862 
Mar. 24, 1864 
July 12, 1862 


3 
3 

3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 

3 

3 

3 
3 

3 

3 

3 
3 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 

3 


Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, '64 — 

mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
Mus. out with company, July 14, '65 — Vet. 
Discharged Jan. 19, '65, for wounds received 

at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, '64, 
Discharged by General Order, May 31, '65. 
Discharged by General Order, May 15, '65. 


Morgan, Joseph P 


Miller, Tobias W 


do 


Miller, Lewis M 


do 


Meyer, Albert L 


do 




do 


Discharged by General Order, July 6, '65. 
Missing in action at Spottsylvania C. H., 
Va., May 12, '64. 


Moyer, Charles H 


do 

do 




. ..do 


Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. i3,'62 


Mills, Charles 


do 




. . do 


— transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
Wounded at Gettysburg — transferred to Bat- 




do.. 


tery A, 4th U. S. Artillery. 


McNamara, Matthew .... 

McCready, James 

McGlensey, Charles 

McCutcheon, John 


do 

do 

do 

do 

do 


Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 


McDonnell, James 


do 

. .do.. .. 


Not on muster-out roll. 

Discharged by General Order, June 6, '65. 




do 


Not on muster-out roll. 




do.... 


Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 


Reppert, Henry 

Reber, Franklin 


do 

do 

do 


Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H.,Va., May 
i8,'64 — mus. out with company, July 14, '65. 

Prisoner from May 14. '64, to April 12, '65 — 
discharged by General Order, June 22, '65. 

Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, '64 — 




.. .do 


transferred to Vet. Res. Corps, April 28, '65 

discharged by General Order, July 24, '65. 

Captured at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 2s"64— 




....do.. 


died at Salisbury, N. C, Jan. 26, '65— Vet. 
Died at New York, Oct. 27, '64. 




do 


Died July 22, of wounds received at Peters- 


Reichert, Charles K 

Reichert, Christian 

Robinson, Joseph H 


do 

do 

.....do 

do 


burg, Va., June i6,'64 — buried in Cyp. Hill 

Cemetery, L. I. 
Died June 20, of wounds received at Cold 

Harbor, Va., June 3, '64. 
Missing in action at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 

25. '64- 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Prisoner from May 5 to Dec. ,'64 — mustered 




..do.. .. 


out with company, July 14. '65 — Vet. 
Transferred to Vet. Res Corps — discharged 




do 


on Surgeon's certificate, June 7. '65. 
Killed at Cold Harbor. Va., June 3, '64 — Vet. 


Sacriste, Sebastian 


do 

...do.. 


Transferred to Co. A. Jan. 26, '63. 
Transferred to Battery A, 4th U. S. Artillery. 




do 


Not on muster-out roll. 




do 


Not on muster-out roll. 




do 


Wounded at Fredericksburg. Va., Dec. i3,'62 


Titlow, Abr'm S 


do 


— not on master-out roll. 




.do.. 


Not on muster-out roll. 




do 






do.. 


Killed May 30, '64, at Totopotomy Creek, Va. 




do 






WooUis, Willoug'y 

Webber, Franklin 


do 

do 


Feb. 19, 1864 
Feb. 19, 1864 
Feb. 19, 1864 


Wounded at Spottsylvania C.H.,Va., May 12, 

'64 — mustered out with Co., July 14. '64. 
Wounded at Cold Harbor. Va., June 2, '64 — 




do 


tr. to Vet. Res. Corps, June 5, '65. 
Died at Washington, D. C, Jan. 5 '65 — bu. 






record, Feb. 6, '65 — buried in Nat. Cem., 
Arlington, Va. — Vet. 



THREE YEARS' SERVICE. 



407 



NAME. 


RANK. 


DATE OF 

MUSTBR INTO 

SERVICB. 


S 

I 
a 
> 


REMARKS. 


Webber, John 


do 

do 


Feb. 19, 1864 

Feb. 19, 1864 
Feb. 19, 1864 

Feb. 19, 1864 
Feb. 19, 1864 

July 26, 1862 
July 26, 1862 
Mar. 28, 1864 


3 
3 


Captured at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 
12, '64 — died at Andersonville, Ga., Sept. 7, 
'64 — grave, 8,081. 

Killed at Wilderness, Va., May 5, '64. 




do 




do 


] burg, Va., June 22, '64 — bu. in Nat. Cem., 

1 Arlington — Vet. 
3 ] Died Jan. 7, '65. 
3 1 Missing in action at Po River, Va., May lo, 

•64— Vet 
3 [ Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
3 j Transferred to Co D — date unknown. 
3 Not on muster-out roll. 




do 




do 




do 




do .... 


Webber, Wra. H 


do 













Company G. 



Lawrence Kelley 


Captain 


Aug. 2, 


1862 


3 


Discharged by special order. Jan. 27, "63. 


Frank R. Leib 


do 


Mar. 9, 


1864 


3 


Wd. at Cold Harbor, Va.. June 3. '64— Bv. 






Major, Mar. 13, '65 — discharged by G. O., 












Oct. 3, '64. 


Francis McGuigan 


do 


.A.ug. 12, 


1862 


3 


Pr. fr. priv. Co. B to ist Lt., Apr. 4, '64 — to 
Capt.. Tan. 9, '65 — disch. by G.O.,June 3, '65. 


S. G. Vanderheyden 


do 


Mar. 9, 


1864 


3 


Wd. at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 18, '64 
— pr. fr. 2d to 1st Lt., Jan. 9, '65 — to Capt., 
June 12, '65 — mus. out with Co., July 14, '65. 




ist Lieut. 
do 


July 8, 
Aug. 2, 


1862 
1862 


3 
3 


Discharged by special order, Jan. 27, '63. 








disch. as 2d Lt., Jan. 27, '63 — com. ist Lt., 












Feb. 27, '63 — promoted to Adj., Mar. i, '63. 


William A. Klock 


ist Sgt. 


Feb. 29, 


1864 


3 


Wd. at Petersburg, Va., June 16, '64 — pr. to ist 












Sgt., Jan. I, '65 — com. ist Lt., June6,'65 — not 












mus.— mus. out with Co., July 14, '65 — Vet. 


Edward J. Rogers 


do 


June 17, 


1864 


3 


Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62 
— not on muster-out roll. 


Israel Seitzinger 


Sergeant. 


Apr, 5, 


1864 


3 


Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 


George A. Cook 


.do 


Feb. 10, 


1864 


3 


Wounded at Petersburg, June 16, '64 — mus- 












tered out with company, July 14, '65. 


James F. Kressley 


do 


Mar. 3, 


1864 


3 


Promoted to Sgt., June ist, '65 — mustered 
out with company, July 14, '65. 


Charles M. Garber 


do..^. 


Mar. 9, 


1864 


3 


Promoted to Sgt , June ist, '65 — mustered 
out with company, July 14, '65. 


Jas. M. Seitzinger 


do 


Apr. 5, 


1864 


3 


Promoted to Sgt., June 3, '64 — wounded at 
Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, '64— disch. 
by General Order, May 31, '65. 

Promoted to Com. Sgt., June 11, '65 — Vet. 




do 


Feb. 29, 
June 15, 
June 20, 


1864 
1862 
1862 


3 
3 
3 




do 


Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 


George H. Bunting 


do 


Not on muster-out roll. 


Thomas McKelvey 


do 


June 24, 


1862 


3 


Not on muster-out roll. 


John C. Marley 


do 


July 8, 


1862 


3 


Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62. 




Corporal 


Mar. 3, 


1864 


3 


Promoted to Corporal, July 26, '64 — mustered 




out with company, July 14, '65 — Vet. 


H. M. Seitzinger.. 


do 


Mar. 10, 


1864 


3 


Promoted to Corporal, July 26, '64 — mustered 












out with company, July 14, '65. 


John McKinsey 


do 


Mar. 7, 


1864 


3 


Promoted to Corporal, Oct. 25, '64 — mustered 












out with company, July 14, '65. 




do 


Mar. 24, 


1864 


3 


Promoted to Corporal, Apr. 15, '65 — mustered 






out with company, July 14, '65. 


Halley Barr 


do 


Mar. 10, 


1864 


3 


Promoted to Corporal, June i, '65 — mustered 






out with company, July 14, '65. 




do 


Mar. 12, 


1864 


3 


Wounded at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25,'64 






— promoted to Corporal, June i, '65 — mus- 












tered out with company, July 14, '65. 




do 


Mar. 31, 


1864 


3 


Promoted to Corporal, June i, '65— mustered 






out with company, July 14, '65 — Vet. 



408 



THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 



Henry R. Quinter. 
Abraham Foust.... 



Samuel S. Kramer., 
Charles Gallagher.., 
Frederick Wagner.., 
William H. Milner. 



Francis Adams., 
Samuel White... 
James Byrnes... 



Charles Kleeplatt.. 
John McCormick.. 

Edward Harris 

James Kelley 

Henry Adams 

Adams, Cassius 



Allen, John 

Berger, George. 
Beyer, Elias 



Barr, John 

Buchner, Adam. 



Becker, William H do 



Brocklehurst, Rob't.. 

Barr, Dennis 

Brown, James 

Busby Samuel 

Chambers, Morgan.. 



Christ, Charles 

Cooper, Thomas. 

Cook, John G 

Cole, Neil , 

Deitzler, Henry..., 



De Bowman, Chas., 

Dennis, John 

Dorsey, Dennis 

Doyle, William 

Dunn, John, ist , 

Dunn, John, 2d 

Edmonston, Rob't. 

Fennel, William 

Freeby, George , 

Fields, John 

Franks, Frank B 

Gearing, John , 

Goodman, George.. 
Green, Jesse 



Gebbert, Edm'd L. 



Giltman, John 

Green, Wm 

German, Wm 

Gorman, Bernard... 

Gibbs, James 

Gravell, George 

Giger, John 

Gedds, Alexander., 
Heater, Franklin... 



Corporal 
do 



.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 

.do. 
.do. 
.do 



DATE OF 

MUSTER INTO 

SERVICE. 



do 

do 

Musician 

do 

do 

Private 



.do. 
.do. 
.do. 

do. 

.do. 



.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 

.do. 

.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
,.do. 
..do. 



do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

.... do. 



.do. 

.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
do. 
.do. 
.do. 



Mar. 10, 

Mar. 5, 

Feb. 29, 
July 29, 
June 16, 
June 16, 

June 24, 
June 24, 
July 29, 

Aug. I, 
July 8, 
Mar. 15, 
June 26, 
June 26, 
Mar 19, 

July 25, 
Feb. 29, 
Feb. 29, 

Feb. 20, 
Mar. 24, 

Mar. 10, 
July 8, 
June 28, 
June 30, 
June 27, 
Feb. 29, 

Mar. 10, 
Mar. 5, 
Aug. 18, 
July 12, 
Feb. 29, 



Aug. I, 
July 10, 
July 23, 
July II, 
June 16, 
Aug. 28, 



Mar. 10, 
Mar. 10, 
June 13, 
June 30, 
Mar. 24, 
Apr. 18, 
Apr. 5, 

Feb. 29, 

July 12. 

July 8, 

July 21, 

July 25, 

July 29, 
Aug. I, 
Aug. 13, 
Aug. 14, 
Mar. 17, 



864 



Wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 22, '64 — 

disch. by General Order— date unknown. 
Wd. and cap. at SpottsylvaniaC.H.,Va.,May 

12, '64 — died at Richmond — date unknown. 
Missing at Petersburg, Va., June 22, '64 — Vet. 
Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
Pr. to Hospital Steward — date unknown. 
Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62 

— not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62 

— not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 

Tr. to Battery A, 4th U. S. Artillery — killed. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Transferred to Co B — date unknown. 
Wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 22, '64 — 

discharged by General Order, June 15, '65. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Absent, sick, at muster out. 
Wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5, '64 — 

tr. to Vet. Reserve Corps — date unknown. 
Died May 25, '64. 
Captured at Po River, May 10, '64 — died at 

Andersonville.Ga., July 27, '64 — grave, 4,084. 
Missing in action, July 26, '64. 
Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Wounded in action, Sept. 25, '64 — absent, in 

hospital, at muster out. 
Disch. by General Order, date unknown. 
Killed at Petersburg, Va., June 22, '64. 
Died Nov. 7, '62 — bu. in Mil. Asy. Cem., D.C. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Captured at Reams Station, Va. , Aug. 25, '64 

— died Mar. 28, '65 — buried in Nat. Cem., 

Loudon Park, Baltimore, Md. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Transferred to Co. A. Jan. 26, '63. 
Discharged by special order. Mar. 18, '64. 
Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
Disch. on Surgeon's certificate, Dec. 18, '64. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, 64 — 

discharged by General Order, July 7, '65. 
Died at Washington, D. C, Oct. 16, '64— bur. 

in National Cemetery, Arlington, Va. 
Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not, on muster-out roll. 
Transferred to company A, Jan. 26, 1863. 
Transferred to company A, Jan. 26, 1863. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 



THREE YEARS' SERVICE. 



409 



DATE OP 

MUSTER INTO 

SERVICE. 



REMARKS. 



Hasler, Frederick | Private Mar. 3, 1864 



Hoffman, John H [ do. 

Heinback, VVm. B j do. 

Hartz, Francis j do. 

Harren, Edward ' do. 

Herring, Isaac I do . 

Harker, John W [ do . 

Heinback, Wm j do . 

Heinback, John do. 



Hummel, Jacob. 



Herring, Paul 

Hummel, Jonathan. 

Hoffman, Henry 



Hibbs, Joseph H 



.do. 



.do. 
.do. 



.... do. 
Heinback, S I do. 

Hutchinson, Wm ' do . 

Hare, William | do. 

Johnston, Wm. H 1 do. 
ones, \V iiliam ' do. 

Jones, Frank j do . 

Kramer, Isaac do. 

Kissmer, Wm. H.. do. 

Koch, George W do. 

Kramer, George do. 



Mar. 5, 1864 
Feb. 29, 1864 

Mar. 17, 1864 

Mar. 25 1864 

Feb. 29, 1864 

Feb. 2g, 1864 

Feb. 29, 1864 

Feb. 29, 1864 

Mar. 5, 1864 

Feb. 29, 1864 
Feb. 29, 1864 

Mar. 10, 1864 

Aug. 12, 1862 



Krouse, Gottleib do . 

Krewson, Alban's L do. 

Kavanaugh, Peter do. 

Kelly, James do. 

Long, Lewis D , do. 



Lutz, Mahlon 



do. 



Lawler, John do. 

Matz, Leon D do. 

Moyer, William ' do . 

Miller, John do. 

Miller, Thomas do. 

Moyer, Michael do. 

Moyer, Jonathan Y do. 



Marberger, John C 



Moyer, James F do. 

Markland, James do. 

Monaghan, Felix do. 

Miles, Edward E do. 



June 24, 1862 
June 24, 1862 
June 24, 3862 
June 24, 1862 
July 15, 1862 
Mar. 10, 1864 
Mar. 31, 1864 
Jan. 3, 1865 
Feb. 19, 1864 



Mar. 31, 1864 
June 13, 1862 
July 20, 1862 
Aug. 20, 1862 
Mar. 12, 1864 

Mar. 10, 1864 

July 30, 1862 
Feb. 29, 1864 

Mar. 12, 1864 
Apr. 3, 1865 
Mar. 3, 1864 

Apr. 5, 1864 

Feb. 20, 1864 



Mar. 5, lE 



Mar. 5, 1864 
June 13, 1862 
June 13, 1862 
June 30, 1862 



Wd. at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, '64 — 

m s. out with company, July 14, 1865 — Vet. 
Mustered out wiih company, July 14, 1865. 
Wd. at Spoitsvlvania C. H., Va., May 12, 

'64 — absent, in hospital, at muster out. 
Wd. at Cold Harbor, Va.,June 2, 1864— ab- 
sent, in hospital, at muster out. 
Wd. at Spotisylvania C. H., Va., May 18, '64 

— discharged by Gen. Older, July 6, 1865. 
Pris. from Aug. 25, 1864, to Feb. 28, 1865 — 

disch. by (General Order, June 21, 1865. 
Wd. at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, 1864- tr. 

to Vet. Kes. Corps — date unknown. 
Capt'd at Spottsylvania C. H ., Va., May 12, 

'64 — died at Andersonville, Ga. — date unk. 
Capt'd at Petersburg, Va., June 22, '6+ — died 

at Andersonville, Ga., Oct. 12, '64 — grave 

10,814. 
Capt'd at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, '64 — 

died at Andersonville, Ga. — date unknown 

—Vet. 
Mis. in action at Reams Station. 
Pris. from July 27, '64, to Mar. i, '65 — disch. 

by (ieneral Order, June 29, '65. 
Missing in action at Reams station, Va., 

Au^ 25. '64. 
T ransferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
Died Auj. 14, '64, at Andersonville, Ga. — 

grave 5,688. 
Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, "63. 
Killed at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, '62. 
Not on nuist' r-oui roll. 
Nut on muster-nut roll. 
Noi on inu>tcr out rn,l. 
Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
Absent, sick, at muster out. 
Capt'd at Petersbur ', Va., June 22, '64 — 

died at Andersonville, Ga., Oct. 30, '64 — 

grave, 11,645. 
Mis. in act'nat Petersburg, Va., June 22, '64. 
Not on niustcr-out roll. 
No' "n muster ou' ro I. 

Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62. 
Wd. at Spottsylvania C H., Va., May 12, 

'64 — disch. by Gen. l)rder, Aug. 7, '65. 
Wd. at Cold Harbor. Va., June 2, '64— tr. 

to Vet. Kes. Corps — date unknown. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Wd. at Petersburg, Va.. June t6, '64— must. 

out with company, July 14, 1865. 
Mustered out with company July 14, '65. 
Mustrre't "lit with cmpanv, July 14, '6^. 
Wd. at Wilderi ess, Va.. May 5, '64— absent 

in hospital, at muster out. 
1 r. to Vet. Kes. Corns — date unknown— 
disch. by General < rder. Aug. 23, '65. 

Died at White House. Va., Aug. 12, of 
wounds received at Cold Harbor. June 3, 
'64— buried in Nat'l Cemetery, Arlin ton. 

Died at Washington, D. C, Sept. 8. of wds. 
rec. at Keams Station, Va., Aug. 25. '64 — 
buried in National Cemetery, Arlington. 

I 'ied at Washington, D. C, June 26, '64. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Not on muster-out roll. 



410 



THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 



NAME. 


RANK, 


DATE OF 

MUSTER INTO 

SERVICE. 


H 

n 
» 

! 

> 


REMARKS. 




Private 
do 


July 12, 1862 
July 31, 1862 
Aug. I, 1862 
Feb. 25, 1864 

Sept. 28, 1864 

July g, 1862 
July 28, 1862 
July 29, 1862 
June 13, 1862 
July 14, 1862 
July ig, 1862 
July 7, 1862 
July 22, 1862 
June 30, 1862 
Mar. 31, 1864 
July 7, 1862 

July 7, 1862 
Aug. I, 1862 
Mar. 5, 1864 
July 2g, 1862 
July 5, 1S62 
July 22, 1862 
Aug. 28, 1862 
Mar. 10, 1864 

Mar. 25, 1864 

Mar. 3, 1864 
Mar. 25, 1864 

July 12, 1862 


3 
3 
3 
3 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 

3 
3 

3 






Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 




do 


McCafferty, John 

McVey, William 


do 

do 


Wd. at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, '64 — nius. 

out with company, July 14, '65. 
Trans, to Vet. Res. Corps — date unknown — 

discharged by General Order, June 28, '65. 
Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 


McSorley, Patrick 


do 

do 


McCullow, John 

McGrickin, Michael 


do 

do 

do 


Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 


McGinley. Charles 

McLaughlin, Daniel 

McNulty, Henry 


do 

do .... 

do 


Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 


Mcduire, Thomas 

Norton, Thomas 


do 

do.. 


Not on muster-out roll. 


O'Harra, Henry 


do.... 


Wd. at Fredericksburg, Va.. Dec. 13, '62 — 
transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 


O'Conner, John 


do.... 


O'Reeson, William 

Poffenberger, Fran 

Purdy, Thomas 

Price, Henry D 


do 

do 

.... do 

do 


Not on muster-out roll. 

Kill'datSpottsylvaniaC. H.,Va.May i8,'64. 
Not on muster-out mil. 


Porter, Michael 

Quinn, Terrence 

Reber, Franklin 


....do 

do 

do 


.Not on niusier-oul roll. 
Not on musler-nut roll. 
Wd. at Wilderness, Va., May 5, '64 — dis- 

charijed by General Order, May 3, '65. 
I'risoner from June 23, '64, to April 29, '65 — 

discharged by General Order, June 27, '65. 
Trans, to Vet. Res Corps — date unknown. 
Capt'd at Petersburg, Va., June 22, '64 — 

died at Lynchburg, Aug. 17, '64 — buried in 

Poplar Grove National Cem., division E, 

section E. grave, 331. 


Rehring, Moses 

Roth, Jacob 


do 

do 


Ruck, Cyrus 


do 

do 


Ryan, Martin V 


do 


Died July 24, '64, at Louisville, Ky., grave 
63, sec. B, div. 4. 




do 


July 31, 1862 
Mar. 10, 1864 
Feb. 29, 1864 
Mar. 17, 1864 

Mar. 17, 1864 
Apr. 5, ff64 
Mar. 10, 1864 

Feb. 24, 1864 

Mar. 5, 1864 
Feb. 20, 1864 

Mar. 10, 1864 

Mar 10, 1864 
July 31, 1862 
July 23, 1862 
June 16, 1862 
July 5, 1862 
July 22, 1862 
Mar. 3, 1864 
Feb 20, 1864 
Mar. 3, 1864 

June 13, 1863 


3 
3 
3 

3 

3 
3 
3 

3 

3 
3 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 


Sei;fried, John 


do.. 


Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 

Mustered out with company. July 14, '65. 

Wd. at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 12, 
'64, and at Five Forks, March 31, '65 — 
mus. out with company, July 14, '65. 

Mus. out with company, July 14, '65 — Vet. 

Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 

Wd. at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, '64 — dis- 
charged by General Order, June 26, '65. 

Prisoner from Aug. 25, '64, to March 12, '65 — 
discharged by General Order, June 22, '65. 

Disch. on Surjeon's certificate, July 28, '64. 

Killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, '64— 
burial record, June 12, '64 — buried in Nat- 
ional Cemetery, Arlinsrton. 

Died at Washington, D. C, June 30, '64 — 
buried in National Cem., Arlington, Va. 

Missing in action July 26, '64. 


SherfF, Henry 

Schelthorn, Jacob 

Smith, Adam S 

Sellers, Jacob 


.... do 

do 

do.. .. 

.... do 

do... 


Smith, George S 


do.. 


Snyder, Peter 


do.. 


Sherman, Adam 


do.... 




do 




do 


Schor, Paul 


.. do. 


Seed, Joseph 


do 






do. ... 


Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 


Scott, Joseph B 


do 




do.... 






do 




Trumbo, Henry H 


do 

do 


Kill'd at Spottsylvania C.H.,Va.,May i2,'64. 
Died at Washington, D. C, Aug. 5, '64 — 

buried in National Cem., Arlington, Va, 
Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 


Taylor, Francis 


do 







THREE YEARS' SERVICE. 



411 



NAME. 


RANK. 


DATE OF 

MUSTER INTO 

SEKVICE. 


H 

n 

!0 
S 

1 

•< 

a 

> 


REMARKS. 




Private 
do 


Aug. 22, 1862 

Aug. I, 1862 
June 25, 1862 
June 30, 1862 
June 28, 1862 


3 
3 
3 

3 
3 


Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 






do 






do 




Thornton, William 


. .. .do 

do 


Not on muster-out roll. 

Died Dec. 25, '64 — buried U. S. General 

Hosp. Cem., Annapolis, Md. 
Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
Died at Annapolis, Md., Dec. 25, '64, grave 

756. 
Capt'd at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, '64 — 

died at Salisbury, N. C. Feb. 10, '65. 
Missing in action at Spottsylvania C. H., 

Va., May 12, '64. 
Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 


Wolf, William 


.... do.... 


Mar. 3, 1864 
Feb. 29, 1864 

Feb. 29, 1864 

Mar. 10, 1864 

June 24, 1862 
July 10, 1862 
July 14, 1862 
July I, 1862 

Mar. 7, 1864 


3 
3 

3 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 

3 




do 




do 




do 


Wilson, Ambrose O 


do 

do 


White, Thomas J 


do 


Killed at Wilderness, May 5, '64. 

Died of Wounds at Fredericksburg, Va . 

Dec. 13, '62. 
Wounded at Five Forks, Va., March 31, '65 — 

mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 


Walls, John 


do 

do 







Company H. 



John Smith , 

David W. Megraw.... 
Robert J. Alston 



Captain 

do 

do 



George A Henry.... 
Francis T. Quinlan.. 

Jacob Foerst 



Richard H. Wade. 



Thompson W. Smith.. 
Robert P. Brown 



John A. Graham.. 



John Farley... 
Henry Mertz.. 



David C. Jackson. 
David Powell 



John A. Gray 

Frederick Shawn.. 



I St Lieut. 
do.... 



2d Lieut. 



do.... 

ist Sergt. 



do 

Sergeant 



.do... 
.do.. 



.do. 
.do. 



Sept. I, 1862 

Mar. 2, 1864 
Feb. 23, i86<( 



June II, 1862 
Sept. I, 1862 

Feb. 22, 1864 



Aug. 8, 1862 

Mar. 2, 1864 
Feb. II, 1864 

Feb. 15, 1864 



July 15, 1862 
Feb. 25. 1864 



Feb. 6, 1864 
Feb. 25, 1864 

Feb. 8, 1864 

Feb. 8, 1864 



Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 
'62 — discharged by special order,Jan.27,'63. 

Promoted to Major, Jan. 28, '65, 

Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 
12, '64 — pr. frum ist Lt., Feb. 13, '65 — com. 
Major, June 3, and Lt. Col., June 4, '65 — 
not mustered — mustered out with company, 
Julv 14, '65. 

Pr. from 2d Lt., Sept 2,'62 — dis. Nov. 22, '62. 

Pr. from ist Serjeant, Sept. 16, '62 — to Cap- 
tain Co. B, March 7, '63. 

Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 5, '64 — 
pr. frum Sergt. to ist Sergt., July i, 64 — to 
ist Lt., Feb. 14, '65 — mustered out with 
company, July 14, '65. 

Promoted from Q. M. Sergeant, Nov. i,'62 — 
to Q. M., January 26, '63. 

Disch. on Surgeon's certificate. Oct. 8, '64. 

Pr. from Sergeant, Feb. 14, '65 — mustered 
out with company, July 14, '65 — Vet. 

Died at Alexandria, June 18, of wounds re- 
ceived at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, '64 — 
grave 2,135. 

Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62. 

Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H., May 18. 
'64 — pr. from Corporal, July i. '64 — mus- 
tered out with company, July 14, '65 — Vet. 

Promoted from Corporal. Dec. i, '64 — mus- 
tered out with company, July 14, '65. 

Promoted to Corporal, Sept. i, '64 — to Sergt., 
Dec. I, '64 — mustered out with company, 
July 14, '65 — Vet. 

Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H., May 12, 
'64 — promoted from Corporal, Aug. i, '64 — 
mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 

Died July 31, of wounds received at Peters- 
burg. Va., June 24, '64 — buried in National 
Cemetery, Arlington. 



412 



THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 



NAME. 


RANK. 


DATE OF 

MUSTEK INTO 

SERVICE. 


M 

» 

1 

•< 
n 
> 
» 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 
3 

3 
3 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 


REMARKS. 


Henry W. Case 


Sergeant 
do 


Feb. 27, 1864 

July 10, 1862 
July 7, 1862 

Aug. 19, I.-62 

Aug. 19, 1862 
Feb. 8, 1864 

Oct. 14, 1864 

Feb. 6, 1864 

Feb. 16, 1864 

Feb. 22, 1864 

1 eb. 23, 1864 

Feb. 8, 1864 
Feb. 26, 1864 

Feb. 13, 1864 
Feb. 13, i85, 

Feb. 24, 1864 

July 30, 1862 
July 8, ib62 
Juiy 13, 1862 
July 9, 1862 
July 8, 1862 
July 24, 1862 
July 25, 1862 
Aug. 21, 1862 
Aug. 29, 1862 
July 17, 1862 
Feb. 4, 1864 

July II, 1862 
July 26, 1862 
Aug. 19, 1862 
Feb. 18, 1864 
Feb. 26, 1864 
Feb. II, 1864 
Feb. 25, 1864 
Aug. 2, 1864 
Mar. 31, 1864 

Feb. 11, 1864 
Feb. 27, 1864 

Feb. 15, 1864 

Feb. 25, 1864 
July 9, 1862 
July II, 1862 
July 22, 1862 
Mar. 7, 1864 
Feb. 9, 1864 

Feb. 22, 1864 
Feb. 18, 1864 
July IS, 1862 


Died Aug. 13, of wounds received at Spott- 




sylvaiiia C. H., Va., May 12, '64 — buried in 
Na ional Cemetery, Arlin^;ton. 
Transferred to Cc. D, Jan 26, '63. 




do 


Tran ferrcd to Co. D. Jan. 26, '63. 


John Welsh 

William Kelly 


.... do 

do 


Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 




Corporal 
do 


Promoted to Corporal, Oct. i, '64 — mustered 




out with company, July 14, '65 
Promoted to Corporal, iJec. i, '64 — mustered 


Frederick D. Rasp 


do 

do 


out with company, July 14, '65. 
Promoted to Corpoial, Jan. i, '65 — mustered 

out with company. July 14, '65. 
Promotrd to Corporal, l\Iay i, '65 — mustered 




do 


out with company, July 14, '65. 
Promoted to Corporal, June 6, '65 — mustered 


James T. Tompkins 

William H. Barker 

William Wallace 


.... do 

do 

do 


out with company, Juiy 14, '65. 
Wounded at Petersburg;, Va., June 16, '64 — 

absent, in h •spital, at muster out — Vet. 
Muateredout with company, July 14. '65 — Vet. 
Promoted to Corporal, Dec. i, 1864 — disch. 




do 


by General Older, June j, "(15. 
Promoted to Sergeant- .\laj.>r, June 6, '65. 


William Wertz 

George Seip 


do 

do 

do 


Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 

18, -64. 
Captured at Reams Station, Va., Aug 25, 

'64— died a Salisbury, N. C, Nuv. 8, '64. 
Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 


Alevander r dgar 

Robt. J. Kitzgerald.. 


do 

do 

do 


Tianslerred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 
Traiisfe red to Co. D, Jan. 26. '63. 
Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 




do.. . 


Ki led at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862. 


Nicholas Martin 

Chas. J. hou^heity 

Thomas McNeice 


do 

do 

do 

do 


Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 

Not on muster-out r ill. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62. 


Alexander Mahan 


Mum ian 
Private 

do 

do 

do 

do 


Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '' 3. 

Prisoner from Aug. 25, '64, to March 4, '65 — 


Anderson, Joseph 

Anderson, deo. H 

Atkinson, Franc. C 


discharged by General Order, Aug. 7, '65. 
Not on niustcr-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 




do 


Mus. out with company, July 14, '65 — Vet. 


Brown, John 

Black, Josiah B 


do 

do 


Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 


Bennett, James 


do 


Mustered out with company, July 14, '65 




... .do 


Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, '64 — 




do 


died of wounds, June 23, '64. 
Died June 23, of wounds received at Cold 


Beilhartz, John 


do 


Harbor, Va., June 3, '64 — buried in Nat. 
Cem., Arlington. 
Captured at William's Farm, Va., June 22, 


Bowser, James W 

Buckley, Michael J 

Brown, Isaac 

Brewer, George C 

Harris, William 


do 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 


'64 — died at Andersonville, Oct. 14, '64 — 

grave 10,943. 
Missing in action at Spottsylvania Court 

House, Va., May 12, '64. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 
Not on muster-out roll 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 




do.... 


Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, '64— 


Clifford, Charles 


do.... 


absent, in hospital, at muster out. 
Promoted to Sergeant-Major, June 4, '65. 




do.... 


Miss. m action at Petersburg, Va., June 16, '64. 




do.... 


Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 









THREE YEARS' SERVICE. 



413 



Cummings, John., 
Casey, John M.. .. 
Cutinar, Charles... 
Clementine, John. 

Cook, i.ewis C 

Cox, Richard 

Devine, Dennis.... 

Door, John 

Delaney, Patrick.. 

Dubois, George 

Daly, Koderick 

1 >avis, James 

Develin, Michael.. 
Develin, Thomas., 

Dawson, John 

Diebold, Peter 

Emanuel, John 



F.agan, James .. 
Fence, William 



Fence, Suffley ..., 
Freidle, John S. 



Fletcher, James 

Foster, John W 

Fisher, Joseph 

Frazier, (leorge F... 

Ford, Jeremiah 

Gibbons, Richard ... 
Gillespie, Samuel S.. 
Guinan, Peter 



Private 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

.. do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

.... do.... 
do.... 



Glasgow, Matthew.. 
Gorman, William. .. 

Geary, William 

Gates, John 

Golder, John 

Gunk, Conrad 

Hamilton, Thos. A.. 



Hausburg, Jos. S. 

Harlan, John 

Haughy, John 



Hathaway, Wm E., 

Himes, James 

Hewitt, Charles , 

Harron, William ... 
Hayden, Patrick .... 

Holmes, James 

Johnston, Alex 



Keeney, Patrick. 
Kelley, Michael . 



Kinchner, John... 

Kendel, Jacob 

Kelley, Charles... 
Lefevre, Calvin J. 



.do. 
.do. 

.do. 
.do. 

.do. 

do. 
.do. 
.do. 

do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 

do. 
.do. 

do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 

.do. 
.do. 
.do. 

do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 

.do. 
.do. 

.do. 
do. 
.do. 
.do. 



Leonard, Frank I do . 



DATE OF 

MUSTER INTO 

SEKVICE. 



Aug. 19 
Feb. 15 
July 16 
Feb. 2o 
heb. 24 
Feb. 
Feb. 4 
Feb. 15 
July 9 
July 12 
July 8 
July 21 

July 25; 

Aug. 13 
t eb. 23 
Feb." 3 
Feb. 3 

Feb. 22, 
Feb. 23, 

Feb. 22 
Feb. 27 

Aug. 29, 
July iQ 
Aug. 5 
Feb. 22 
Feb. 15 
Feb. 4 
Sept. 21 
July 9 

July 30^ 
Aug. 4 
July 21 
July 21 
Aug. 19 
Feb. 15, 
Feb. lo 



Feb. 
Feb. 
Feb. 



July II 
Aug. 16 
July 21 
Aug. 23 
Aug. 23 
F'eb. 20 
Feb. 17 

Feb. 
Feb. 



July 
Aug. 
Feb. 
Feb. 



Logue. Frank 

Lott, William L. 
Lutz, John L 



.do., 
.do., 
.do. 



July 21, 
Aug. 2, 
July 14, 



862 



862 



864 



864 



864 



864 



REMARKS. 



Transferred to Co. F — date unknown. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Mustered out wiih company, July 14, '63. 
Died at City Point, Va., Feb. i5,'65. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Niit on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-'.ut roll. 
>J< t on muster-out roll. 
Not on mu ter-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 16, '64. 
\V()unded at Petersburg, Va., June 16, "64 — 
discharged by General larder, June 16, '65. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
.Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 

Discharged on Surgeon's certificate,Jan.7,'65. 

Ciptured at Reams Siation, Va., Aug. 25, 
'64 — died at Salisbury, N. C., Dec. 25, '64. 

Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Mustered out with company, July 14, '65 

Killed at Five Forks, Va , March 31, '65. 

Wd. at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62 — 
transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 

Transferred to Co. D. Jan. 26, '63. 

Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Wd, at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, '64 — mus- 
tered out with company, July 14, '65 

Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 

Discharged by G. (>., May 15, '65. 

Ditd July 25, of wounds received at Cold 
Harbor, June 3, '64. 

Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Transferred 10 Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Wounded at Petersburg, Va., April 2, '65 — 
discharged by General Order, June 3, '65. 

Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 

Wounded at >pottsylvania C. H., Va., May 
12, '64 — discharged by G. O., June 7, '65. 

Transferred to Co. D. Jan. 26, '63. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H., May i2,'64 
— transferred to Co. C, 14th reg. V. R. C. — 
died at Washington, 1>. C. July 4, '65. 

Captured at Petersburg, Va , June 22, '64 — 
died at Lynchburg, Sept. 10, '64. 

Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 

Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 

Not on muster-out roll. 



414 



THE STORY OF THE 116TH REGIMENT. 



NAME. 


RANK. 


DATE OF 

MUSTER INTO 

SERVICE. 


H 
W 
» 

i 

n 
> 


REMARKS. 




Private. 
do 


Aug. 14, 1862 
Jan. 13 1864 
Feb. 6, 1864 

Feb. IS, 1864 

Feb. 15, 1864 

Feb. 29, 1864 

Feb. 9, 1864 

Aug. 15, 1862 

July 30, 1862 
July 29, 1862 
Aug. 22, 1862 
Feb. 18, 1864 

Feb. 17, 1864 

Feb. 8, 1864 

Sept. I, 1862 

Aug. 29, 1862 
July IS, 1862 
Aug. 16, 1862 
Aug. 19, 1662 
Aug. 22, 1862 
Aug. 30, 1862 
Aug. 29, 1862 
Feb. s. 1864 
Feb. 6, 1864 
Aug. 19, 1862 
Feb. 14, 1864 
Feb. 8, 1864 

Feb. 25, 1864 

Feb. 12, 1864 
Aug. 9, 1862 
Aug. 10, 1862 
Feb. 25, 1864 

Feb. 29, 1864 
Mar. 7, 1864 
Sept. 21, 1864 
Feb. 16, 1864 

July 15, 1862 
Aug. 19, 1862 
Aug. 5, 1862 
Feb. 16, 1864 
Mar. 26, 1864 
Feb. I, 1865 
April 15. 1864 
Feb. 10, 1864 

Mar. 1, 1864 

Feb. II, 1864 

July IS, 1862 
July 10, 1862 


3 
3 
3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 

3 

3 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 

3 

3 
3 






Abs-nt, sick, at muster out. 




do 


Absent, sick, at muster out — wounded at 2d 


Miller, Winfield S 


do 


battle of Spottsylvania. 
Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 

18 64 — absert, in hospital, at muster out. 
Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H., Va.. May 

18. '64 — absent, in hospital, at muster out. 
Prisoner from June 22, '64, to March 30, '65 

— discharged by G O , July 24, '65. 
Missing in action at Spottsylvania C H., 

May 12, "64. 
Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62 

— transferred 10 Co. D, Jan. 26. '63. 
Transferred to Co. D, Jan 26, '63. 




do 




do 




do 




do 




do 




do 


Mills, Charles 


do 


Not on muster-out roll. 




do 


Wounded at Totopotomy, Va., May 31, '64, 




do 


and at Five Forks. March 31, '65 — ab., in 

ho^pital at muster out. 
Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3. '64 — 

discharged by General Order, May 26, '65. 
Captured at Reims Station, Va.,Aug.25, '64 

— died at Salisbury, N. C, Jan. 10, '65 
Wounded at Fredericksburg Va.. Dec 13, 

'62 — transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 
Translerred ti> Co. I), Jan. 26 '63. 


McCarty, Charles 


do 


McCullough, David 


do 

do 




do 


Transfeired to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 


McNight, Henry 


do 

do 


.Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 




do 


Not on muster-dut roll. 




do 


Killed at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862. 


McGurick, Laurence 


do 

do 


Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 


McGuire, Thomas 

Niblo, George 

Polly, John 


do 

do 

do 


N t on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Mustered out with company. July 14. '65. 


Puhl, John 


do 


Wounded at Five Forks, Va., March 31, '65 


Puhl, Nicholas 


do 


— discharged by General Order. June 5, '65. 
Prisoner from Aug. 18, 1864, to Feb. 28, 1865 




do 


— discharged by G. O., June 16, 1865. 
Miss, in action at Petersburg, Va., June 15, '64 




do 






do.... 


Not on muster-out roll. 


Riiley, Philip 


do 


Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, 1864 




do 


— mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
Absent, sick, at muster out. 




do 


Absent, sick, at muster out. 


Ralston. William G 

Ross, William A 


do 

do 

do 


Discharged by General Order, June 3, 1865. 
Transferred to Vet. Res. Corps. Sept. 2, 1864 
— discharged by General Order, July 31, '65. 
Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, i86s. 


Rodgers, Willets 


do 


Not on muster-out roll. 




do 


Not on muster-out roll. 


Stark, Robert C 


do 


Mustered out with company, July 14, i86s. 


Shields. John 


do 


Absent, sick, at muster out. 




do 


Discharged by General Order, Aug. 9, 1865. 




do 


Absent, wounded, at muster out. 




do 


Killed near Darbytown Road, Va, Oct. 8, '64 




do 


— burial record, Oct. 18, '64 — buried in Nat. 

Cem., City Pomt, sec. E, div. 2, grave, 151. 

Died at Philadelphia, Pa , July 31, of wounds 




do 


received at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, 1864. 
Died at Alexandria, Va., Sept. 8, of wounds 




do 


received at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, 1864. 
Not on muster-out roll. 




do 


Not on muster-out roll. 









THREE YEARS' SERVICE. 



415 



NAME. 


RANK. 


DATE OK 

MUSTER INTO 

SERVICE. 


H 

M- 

S 
1 

n 

> 


REMARKS. 




Private. 
do.... 


July lO, 1862 
July 15, 1862 
July 31, 1862 
Aug. 13, 1862 
July 14, 1862 
Feb. 13, 1864 
Feb. 25, 1864 
Feb. 9, 1864 
Feb. 9, 1864 


3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 








Small, John E 


do 

do 


Not on muster-out roll. 


Smith, Charles 


do 

do 


Not on muster-out roll. 




do 




Stewart, Wm. H 

Sikes, Samuel 

Stetzler, C 


do 

do 

do 


Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Died Nov. 6, 1864, at Beverly, N. J. 




do.. . 


April 14, 1864 
Feb. 27, 1864 
Feb. 6, 1864 

Feb. 6, 1864 
July 20, 1862 
Aug. 29, 1862 
July 3, 1862 
July 21, 1862 
Aug. 7, 1862 
Aug. 19, 1862 
Aug. 23, 1862 
Aug. 29, 1862 


3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 




do 


Discharged by General Order, May 24, 1865. 
Missing in action at Cold Harbor, Va., June 

3. 1864. 
Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, 1863. 
Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, 1863. 




do 




do 




do 




....do 

do 


Willoughhy, E. B 




do 




Wilson, David 


do 




Wood, Charles 


do 






do 


Not on muster-out roll. 


Webb, William H 


do 











Company I. 



Samuel Taggart 

Wm O'Callaghan. 

Joseph W. Yocum. 



Robert J. Taggart . 



John Stephens 

K. B. Montgomery . 
Johu A. Dickson 



Captain 
do.... 



1st Lieut. 
2d Lieut, 
ist Sgt. 



Thomas J. Murtha... 

Peter Kelly 

George L. Northrop. 



Hrnry Mullen 

Joseph Guiller 

Thomas McKnight. 

James F,. Craig 

Daniel Reen 

George Cole 

David Steen 

John Adams 

Brian McLaughlin . 
William Devereau .. 



do 

Sergeant. 
, do.... 



William R. Cowl. 



do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

.... do.... 

do.... 

......do.... 

Corporal. 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 



.do. 



Apr. 14, 1864 
Aug. 15, 1862 

Aug. 25, 1862 



May 25, 18 



Sept. 18, 1862 
Sept. 19, 1862 
Feb. 29, 1064 



July 24, 1862 
Feb. 25, 1864 
Jan. 9, 1865 

Mar. 23. 1864 
Mar. 9, 1864 
July 12, 1862 
July 22, 1862 
July 16, 1862 
July 19, 1862 
Mar. 18, 1864 
Mar. 8, 1864 
Apr. 4, 1864 
Feb. 7, 1865 

Apr. 13, 1864 



Killed at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, '64 — 

buried in Allegheny Cem.. Pittsburg, Pa. 
Promoted Irom 2d Lt Co. B to ist l.t . May 
2. '64 — to I apt.. Sept. 22, '64 — d schargcd by 
special order. Feb. 16, '65. 

Promoted to 2d Lt., May 3. '64 — to ist Lt., 
Oct. 14, '64 — to Capt. , March 4 '65 — to Bv. 
Maj., March 13, '65 — wd. at Petersburg, Va.. 
June 16 and at William's Farm, Jutie 22,'64 
— d sch. by special order. May 19, '65. 

Promoted to Sgt., April 25. '64 — to ist Sgt., 
."-ept. I, '64 — to isl Lt., March 4. '65 — to 
Capt. June 9, '65 — com. Major, June 4, '65 
— not mustered— mustered out with com- 
pany, July 14, '65. 

Discharged May 12. to date Jan. 27. '63. 

Killed at Fredericksburg. Va., Dec 13, '62. 

Promoted to Sgi., April 25. '64 — to ist Sgt., 
March 4, '65 — wd. at Five Forks, Va., Mar. 
31, '65 — absent, in hospital, at muster out — 
Vet 

Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 

Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 

Pr to Corp., Mar. i, '65 — to Sgt., July i, '65 — 
mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 

Absent, sick, at muster out — Vet. 

Discharged by Genera! Order, June 17, '65. 

Transferred to C". B, Jan. 26, '63. 

Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 

Transferred to C". B, Jan 26, '63. 

Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec 13, '62. 

Mus. out with company, July 14, '65 — Vet. 

Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 

Mustered out with company. July 14, '65. 

Promoted to Corp., July i,'65 — mustered out 
with company, July 14, '65. 

Promoted to Corp.. April 25, '64 — wounded 
at Spottsylvania C. H., May 12, '64 — trans 



416 



THE STORY OF THE 116TH REGIMENT. 



NAME. 


RANK. 


DATE OF 

MUSTER INTO 

SERVICE. 


n 

■X 

Z 
i 

> 


REMARKS. 


Patrick J. Carrigan 


Corporal 
do 


Mar. 26, 1864 

Mar. 23, 1864 

Feb. 24, 1864 

Aug. 8, 1864 

Aug. 4, i8'i2 
Aug 6, 1862 
Aug. 7, 1862 
July 12, 1862 

July 14, 1862 
Mar. I, 1863 
Feb. II, 1864 

Apr. 9, 1864 

Feb. 25, 1S64 

Aug. 18, 1862 
July 23, 1862 
Aug. 13, 1862 
Jan. 25, 1865 

Feb. 24, ,864 
Apr. 12, 1864 
Aug. 28, 1862 


3 

3 
3 

3 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 

3 

3 

3 

3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 


to Co. B, i8th Reg. Vet. Res. Corps— dis- 
charged by General Order. July 19, '65. 

Promoted to C'Tp.. April 25, '65 — prisoner 
from June 22, '64, to April, '65 — discharged 
by General Order, June 3. '65. 

Wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 17, '64, 
and at Wi Ham's Farm, June 22, '64 — disch. 
on Surgeon's certificate, Jan. 24, '65. 

Wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5, '64 — 
disch. on Surg-on's certificate. May 18, '65. 

Promoted to Corp., March i, '65— discharged 
by (Jen-ral Order, June 3, '65, 

Transferred to Co. B. Jan. 26, '63. 

Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 

I'ransferred to Co. B, Ian. 26, '63. 

Wounded ai Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62 
— burial record, Albert Downey, died Jan. 6, 
'63 — buried in Mil. Asy. Cem., D. C. 

Discharged, 1854. 

hischarged at dose of war. 

Mustered out wiih company, July 14, '65 — 
wou ded at Co'd Harbor. 

Wounded at Cold Harb<r. Va., June 3, '64— 
disch. on Surgeon's ce'tificate, 1 'ec. 26, '64. 

W. u ded at Cold Harbor, Va , June 3, '64 — 
died at City ?■ int, Va., Oct. 22, '64. 

Transferred to Co B, Jan. 26, '63. 

Not on mus:er-out roll. 

Not on m'ister-..ut roll. 

Deserted June 20, returned July 5,_'65 — mus- 
tered out with company, July 14. '65. 

Absent, sick, at mnsier out. — Vet. 

Absent, sick, at muster out. 

Discharged June i '63. 

Died March 16, '64. 

Mu t'red out with company, July 14. '65. 

Mustired out with company, July 14, '65. 

W.'unded at Wilderness, Va.. May 5. '64— 
mustered out with company, July 14. ^65. 

Discharged by (General Order, Aug. 4, '65. 


John Jardine 


do ..„ 

do 


Benjamin F. Groves 


do 

do 


William H. Brown 

Alexander Downey 


do 

do 

Musician 

Private 

do 


Christopher H. Moore... 






do 




do 


Ash.Wi:iiam J 

Austin, John 

Broadwater, Henry 

Beatty, James 

Bullinger, Chris 


do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 


Carter, J 


do 




do 


Mar. 21, 1864 
Mar. 12, 1864 
Mar. 10, 1864 

Apr. 23, 18*^4 
Jan. 25. 18 5 
Aug. 13, 1862 
Aug. 18, 1862 
Aug. 23, i852 
Aug. 4, 1862 
Feb. 26, 1864 
Jan. 20, 1865 
Apr. 22, 1864 
Feb. 4, 1864 
Feb. 19, 1864 

Apr. 8, 1864 

May 2, 1864 

Aug. 13, 1862 
July 29, 1862 
July 16, 1862 
1 April 4, 18 4 
Mar. I, 1864 
Aug. 7, 1862 
Dec. IS, 1864 

1 April 4, 1864 
Mar. 25, 1864 




do 




do 




do 




do 


Collins, Henry M 


do 

do 


Transferred to Co. H, Jan. 26, '63. 

Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 

Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 

Discharged Jan., '61,. 

Not on mus'er-out roll. 

Discharged by General Order, June 2. '65. 

Absent, sick, at muster out. 

Di char.;'d by General Order, Tune 14, '65. 

Wounded at Spotts\lvania C. H., .May_i8,'64 

— trans, to Vet. Res. Corps, Dec. 14, '64. 
Wounded at Reams Station. Aug 25, 1854— 

mustered ou' May 24, 18)5. 
Wounded at Reams Stat. on, Va., Aug. 25. '64 

— tr. to 39th Co., 2d Bat. V. K. C, April ii, 

'65— dis. on Surgeon's certific, July 27, '65. 
Transferred to Co. B. Jan. 26, '63. 


Clements, Wm. K. 


do 

do 


Connelly, William 


do 

do 


Donivan, Jjhn 

Dugan, Daniel 

Dee, William 


.... do 

do 

do 


Delaney, Finton 


-do 

do 


Delaney, Matthew 


do 

do 




do .... 






do 






do 




Engles, George H 

Flanigan, William 

Farrell, John A 


do 

do 

do 


Not on mu5iter-out roll. 

Prisoner from March 2 to April 6, '65 — disch. 
by General Order, June 29, '65. 


Fleming, Patrick 


do.. 


Killed at Wilderness, Va., May s, '64. 







THREE YEARS' SERVICE. 



417 



Farley, John 

Fagan, Edward 

Forsythe. George.. 
Gallagher, Owen... 

Grant, Thomas 



Private 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 



.do. 



Gaw, William do. 

Holt, George C do., 

Hughes, James do. 

Harker. Edward .....do. 

Hansell. John R do. 

Heebner, Lawrence, do. 

Hatch, Hannibal do. 

Harvey, Wm. C do . 

Hoofnagle, Melch'r do. 

Hodder, John do . 

Hayden, Patrick do. 

Haley, James | do . 

Haas, Henry do. 

Hill, John do . 

Hamilton, Frank'n do. 

Hutchinson, John | do . 

Jones, Charles do. 



.do 

.do. 

.do. 

.do. 

.do. 

.do. 

.do. 

.do. 

.do. 



Johnson. Piartholomew.. 

James, Enoch G 

Kohlenberg, Joseph 

Kilpatrick, James 

Kinchner, John 

Lawson, Andrew 

Lawrence, Henry D 

Lyons, James 

Leech, Frank 



Leech, John 

Lutz, Jacob 

Lequen, John 

Lynch, John 

Moore, Christ'r H, 

Moore, George 

Merritt, Murtha .... 
MulhoUand, John , 
Minnich, Joseph ... 



Martin, Joseph 

Mannesley, Wm 

Moore, James M ,,. 
Mabuerry, Isaac M 
Manderfield, George C... 
Moore, John 
McManamin, Mat 



.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 



do... 

do... 

do... 

do... 

do... 

do... 

do... 



McManus, John do 



McMuUin, John R., 
McClune, Samuel... 
McDonald, James. 

Neveling, John 

Oliver, Abraham 

Perry, John 

Potts, David 



Price, Samuel 

Rafferty, Charles... 
Richardson, Isaac. 
Rutherford, Thos.., 



.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
do. 
.do. 
..do. 

..do. 

..do. 
..do. 
..do. 



DATE OF 

MUSTER INTO 

SERVICE. 



Aug. 14, 1862 
Aug. 23, 1862 
Feb. 24, 1864 
Feb. 29, 1864 

Feb. 19, 1864 

Aug. 6, 1862 
Mar. 25, 1864 
Mar. 6, 1865 
Apr 24, 1864 
Apr. 4, 1864 
Apr. 18, 1864 
Mar. 2, 1864 
Mar. 28, 1864 
July 10, 1862 
July 22, 1862 
July 30, 1862 
July II, 1862 
July 23, 1862 
Aug. 13, 1862 
Feb. 17. 1864 
Feb. 17, 1864 
Jan. 26, 1865 

July 23. 1862 
Feb. 26, 1864 
June 20, 1864 
Mar. 6, 1865 
July 29, 1862 
iVIar. 6, 1865 
Apr. 18, 1864 
Apr. II. 1864 
Mar. 7, 1864. 



Mar. 7, 
Aug. IS, 
Aug. 19. 
Apr. 4, 
Mar. 31. 
Jan. 18, 
Apr. 9, 
.4pr. 25, 
Mar. 31, 



1864 



1864 



Feb. 21, 1865 
Aug. 9, 1862 
Aug. 16, 1862 
Aug. 18, 1862 
July 7. 1862 
Aug. 7, 1862 
Feb. 3, 1864 
Feb. 19, 1864 

Aug. 29, 1862 
July 25, 1862 
Aug. 7, 1862 
Jan. 20, 1865 
Aug. II, 1862 
May II, 1864 
Feb. 22, 1864 

Mar, 25, 1864 

Mar. 27, 1865 
Jan. 20, 1865 
Aug. 14, 1862 



Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 

Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 

Not on muster. out roll. 

Wd. at Spottsylvania C. H.,Va., May 18, '64 

— mus. out with company, July 14, '65. 
Wounded at Five Forks, Va., March 31, '65 — 

discharged by General Order, June 3, '65. 
Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62. 
Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
Absent, wounded, at muster out. 
Discharged by General Order, May 27, '65. 
Killed at Wilderness. Va., May 5, '64. 
Died near Washington, D. C, Oct. 14, '64. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Transferred to Co. D. 
Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Wounded at Five Forks, Va., March 3i,'65 — 

discharged by General Order, July 15, '65. 
Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Absent, sick, at muster out. 
Absent, on furlough, at muster out. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
Absent, sick, at muster out. 
Wounded at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, '64 

— disch. on Surgeon's certificate, Feb. 6, '65. 
Killed at William's Farm, Va., June 22, '64. 
Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63, 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
Mustered out with company. July 14, '65. 
Missing in action at Spottsylvania C. H., 

Va., May 12, '64 — Vet. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
Transferred to Co. B. Jan. 26, '63. 
Transferred to Co B, Jan. 26, '63. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
Wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5, '64 — 

absent, sick, at muster out. 
Transferred to Co. B. Jan. 26, '63. 
Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
Wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 16, '64 — 

absent, sick, at muster out. 
Died at Alexandria, Va., July 11, of wds. rec. 

at Cold Harbor, June 3, '64 — grave 2,384, 
Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
Transferred to Co, B, Jan. 26, '63. 



418 



THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 



NAME. 


RANK. 


DATE OF 

MUSTER INTO 

SERVICE. 


n 

w 
S 

n 

> 


REMARKS. 




Private 
do 


Mar. i8, 1864 
Apr. II, 1864 
Feb. 17, 1864 

Apr. 6, 1864 

Jan. 26, 1865 
July 24, 1862 
July 29, 1862 
Aug. 29, 1862 
Feb. 19, 1864 
Apr. 28, 1864 
Mar. II, 1864 

July 21. 1862 
July 29, 1862 
Aug. 5, 1862 
Aug. 18, 1862 
Apr. 6, 1864 

Aug. 28, 1862 
Apr. 4, 1864 
Mar. 29, 1864 


3 
3 
3 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 


Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 

Missing in action, June 13, '64. 

Wd. at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 12, '64 
— died at Washington, D C, July 20, '64. 

Wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5, '64 — 
died at Washington, D. C, June 3, '64 — 
buried in National Cemetery, Arlington, Va. 




Searight, William A 

Shea, Edward 


do 

do 


Steel, Robert 


do 




do.... 


Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 




do 




do 




Short. Alfred 


do 




Thompson, Isaac 


do 

do.. 


Discharged by General Order, May 10, '65. 

Transferred to 105th Co., 2d Batt. V. R. C. 
Jan. 22, '65 — discharged on Surgeon's cer- 
tificate, Aug. 29, '65. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62. 

Transferred to Co B, Jan. 26, '63. 

Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 

Captured June 11, '64 — died at Andersonville, 
Ga., July 10, '64 — grave 3,135. 

Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62. 


Van Valtenberg, C 

Van Dien, Albert J 


do 

do 




do 


Wallace, Andrew 

Winchester, John 

White, George 


do 

do 

do.. 


Yauger, Uriah 


do 


Not on muster-out roll. 



Company K. 



JohnO. O'Neill 


Captain 
do.. 


Sept. I, 1862 

Apr. 7, 1864 
Sept. I, 1862 

Mar. 17, 1864 

Sept. 3, 1862 
Apr. 7, 1864 

Mar. 31, 1864 

July 31, 1862 

Feb. 29, 1864 

Feb. 29, 1864 

Feb. 29, 1864 

Feb. 29, 1864 

Feb. 29, 1864 

Aug. 4, 1862 
Aug. I, 1862 
Aug. I, 1862 
Aug. 12, 1862 

Feb. 29, 1864 

Mar. 1, 1864 


3 

3 
3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

'■ 3 

3 

3 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 


Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 
'62 — transferred to 22d reg. V. R. C, April 
4, 1863. 

Discharged by special order, June 22, '65. 

Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Nov. 9, of wounds 
received October 7, '62. 

Captured at William's Farm, Va., June 22, 
'64 — com. Capt., June 22, '65 — not mus. 
— mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 

Discharged May 12, to date Jan. 27, '63. 

Captured at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, 
'64 — com. Q. M., June 3, '65 — not mus. — 
mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 

Wounded at Five Forks, Va., March 3i,'65 — 
absent, in hospital, at muster out. 

Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec.13,'62 
— mustered out with company. 

Promoted from Corporal, May 29, '64 — mus- 
tered out with company, July i4,'65. 

Promoted to Sergeant, April 16, '64 — mus- 
tered out with company, July 14, '65. 

Promoted from Corporal, Dec. 26, '64 — mus- 
tered out with company, July 14, '65. 

Promoted from Corporal, June i, '64 — mus- 
tered out with company, July 14, '65. 

Died at Annapolis, Md., June 24, of wounds 
received at Petersburg, Va., June 16, '64. 

Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 

Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 

Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62. 

Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec, i3,'62 
— promoted to 2d Lt. Co. C, May i, '63. 

Wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 16, '64 — 
mustered out with company. 

Vet.— served in 85th Pa. V.— Killed at Spott- 
sylvania, Va., May 12, '64. 


John R. Weltner 




ist Lieut. 
.. do.. 






2d Lieut. 
do 

ist Sgt. 
do.. 


Zadock B. Springer 


E. K. Crathamel 




Sergeant 

do 

do... 


Wm. H. Sembower 


Alex. Chisholm 


do 

do 


Thomas P. Crown 

Joseph Slinker 


do 

do 

do 


Wm. H. Tyrrell 


do 




do 


Warren S. Kilgore 


do 



Three years' service. 



419 



NAMB. 


RANK. 


DATE OF 

MUSTBR INTO 

SERVICE. 


M 

g 

1 
•< 

n 
> 


REMARKS. 


Stephen S. Beckett 


Corporal 
do 


Mar. 7, 1864 

Mar. 30, 1864 
Mar. 3, 1864 
Apr. I, 1864 
Feb. 29, 1864 

Feb. 24, 1864 
Mar. 30, 1864 

Mar. 13. 1864 
Feb. 29, 1864 

Aug. 7, 1862 
Aug. 15, 1862 
Aug. II, 1862 
Aug. 6, 1862 
July 29, 1862 
Aug. 5, 1862 
Aug. 6, 1862 
Aug. 8. 1862 


3 

3 
3 
3 

3 

3 

3 

3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 


Promoted to Corp., April 16, '64 — wounded 
at Petersburg, Va., June 16, '64 — mustered 
out with company, July 14, '65. 

Promoted to Corporal, June 4, '64 — mustered 
out with comfjany, July 14, '65. 

Promoted to Corporal, March 16, '65 — mus- 
tered out with company, July 14, '65. 

Promoted to Corporal, June 2, '65 — mustered 
out with company, July 14. '65. 

Captured — promoted to Corporal, June 2, '65 
wounded at Wilderness — mustered out with 
company, July 14, '65. 

Promoted to Corporal, June 2, '65 — mustered 
out with company, July 14. '65. 

Wounded at Totopotomy, Va., May 31, '64, 
and at Five Forks, March 31, '65 — trans- 
ferred to Co. G, i8th Regiment Vet. Res. 
Corps — disch.by General Order, Aug. 14, '65. 

Wounded at Five Forks, Va., March 31. '65 — 
absent, in hospital, at muster out. 

Died June 12, of wounds received at Spott- 
sylvania C. H., Va.. May 12, '64 — buried in 
National Cemetery, Arlington. 

Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 

Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 

Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 

Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 

Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 


Andrew J. Seese 


do 


George W. Ganoe 

William H. Nycum 


do 

do 

do 




do 


Timothy Mclnerney 

Rob't J. Brownfield 

Thomas Wallace 


do 

do 

do 

do.. 


Michael J. McKenna 


do 

.. do. 


Charles McLaughlin 


do 

do 




do 




Joseph Hudson 

Richard A. McLean 


do 

do 


Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62. 
Wounded. May 18, '64 at Spottsylvania, Va. 


Daniel Crawford 


do 






— mustered out with company. 
Killed at Spottsylvania, Va , May 18, '64. 
Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 


Daniel Rodgers 


Musician 
do 


Aug. 16, 1862 
Aug. 22, 1862 
Feb. 29, 1864 

June 28, 1862 
Mar. 23, 1864 

Feb. IS, 1864 

Feb. 29, 1864 

Mar. 31, 1864 

Mar. 31, 1864 
Mar. 31, 1864 

Mar. 23, 1864 

Aug. 28, 1862 
Aug. 28, 1862 
Aug. 19, 1862 
Aug. 13, 1862 
Aug. II, 1862 
Mar. 7, 1864 
Feb. 29, 1864 
Feb. 29, 1864 
Mar. 31, 1864 

Feb. 29, 1864 


3 
3 

3 

3 
3 

3 

3 

3 

3 
3 

3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 






Allaman, Jacob 


Private 
do 


Wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5, '64 — 
mustered out with company, July 14. 1865. 




Bolen. Albert W 


do 


Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 
12, 1864 — mustered out with company, July 
14, 1865 — -Vet. in i6th Pa. Cav. 


Bagshaw, John H 


do 


Bailes, Andrew J 

Bricker, William P 

Boyd, Parks A 


do 

do 

do 


Reams Station, Va., August 25, 1864, and at 
Five Forks, March 31, 1865 — absent, in hos- 
pital, at muster out 

Wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 16, '64 — 
tr. to Veteran Reserve Corps, June 7, '65. 

Wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5, '64 — 
tr. to Veteran Reserve Corps, 1S64. 

Killed at Wilderness, Va , May 5, 1864. 


Burkholder, C 


do 


Died of wounds received at Cold Harbor, Va., 


Bell, Henry J 


.do 

do 


June 3, 1864. 
Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 12, 

'64— Vet 
Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, 1863. 




.. .do. 


Not on muster-out roll. 


Bishop, Albert S 


do 

do 


Not on muster-out roll. 

Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13 '62. 


Berrell, Charles 


. . do. 


Not on muster-out roll. 


Bibbs, Morris 


do.. .. 


Not on muster-out roll. 




do 




Blair, Alfred. Jr 


do 


Not on muster-out roll. 


Campbell, John 


do.. 


Wounded at Cold Harbor. Va., June 3, '64 — 


Chisholm, Daniel 


do. ... 


mustered out with company, July 14, '6s. 
jWounded at Petersburg, Va., June 16, '64 — 






pro. to Corporal, March 16, '64 — disch. by 
General Order, June 9, '65. 



420 



THE STORY OF THE ii6th REGIMENT. 







DATE OF 


H 

M 

f 




NAME. 


RANK. 


MUSTER INTO 


1 

■< 
W 
> 

S8 


REMARKS. 






SERVICE. 




Chalfant, John W 




Mar. 22, 1864 
Feb. 29, 1863 


3 


Discharged by General Order, June 5, '65. 
Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 18. 


Crawford, Daniel C 


do 










1864. 




do.. . 


Mar. 31, 1864 


3 


Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 18, 

1864. 






Clemmer, Michael 


do 


Mar. 31, 1864 


^ 


Killed at Cold Harbor, Va , June 3, 18^4. 


Cavanaugh, James 


do 


Aug. 20, 1862 


^ 


Transferred to Co. D. Jan. 26. 1863. 


Coffey, Bernard 


do 


Aug. 2, 1862 


? 


Not on muster-out roll. 


Ditmore, Wm. H 


do 


Mar. 3, 1864 




Discharged by General Order. June 28, 1865. 

Wounded and captured at Reams Station, 

Va., Aug 25, '64 — died at Salisbury, N. C, 




do 


Mar. 30, 1864 


3 














Dec. 3, '64 — burial record, Dec. 13, '64. 


Dougherty, Edward 


do 


Aug. 19, 1862 


3 


Transferred to Co D, Jan. 26, 1863. 




do 


Aug. 29, 1862 


3 


Wounded at Fredericksburg,Va , Dec 13, '62 
— transferred to Co D, Jan. 26, 1863. 






Davis, John 


do 


Aug. 29, 1862 





Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 


Edwards, Thomas 


do 


Feb. 20, J 864 


3 


Discharged by General Order, June 19, 1865. 


Ellinger, Emanuel 


do 


Aug. 4, 1862 


3 


Transferred to Co. D, January 26, 1863. 


Fisher, Michael 


do 


Mar. 30, 1864 


3 


Wd. at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, '64 — Dis- 
charged on Surgeon's cert.. May 18, '65. 






Frazier, Albert 


do 


Mar. 23, 1864 




Discharged by General Order, June 10, '65. 




. ..do.. 


Aug. 29, 1862 
Sept. 2, 1862 


3 
3 


Killed at FVedericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62. 
Not on muster-out roll. 


Farrell, John 


do 




do 


Mar. 30, 1864 


3 


Died at Alexandria, Va., July 17, of wds. 
received at Cold Harbor, June 3, '64 — 














Grave 2,413 — Vet. 


Glendenning, Robert 


do 


Mar. 31, 1864 


3 


Wounded and captured at William's Farm, 
Va., June 22, '64 — died July, '64, at Salis- 
bury, N. C. Prison. 


Gallagher, Martin 


do 


Aug. 14, 1862 


3 


Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 




. . . do 


Aug. 16, 1862 
Feb. 29, 1864 


3 

3 




Green, Charles 


do 


Not on muster-out roll. 




do 


Feb. 28, 1864 
Mar. 23, 1864 
Mar. 30, 1864 
Mar. 23, 1864 


3 

3 
3 
3 


Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
Wd. at Po River, Va., May 10, '64 — mus- 
tered out with company, July 14, '65. 


Hall, Henry 


. . ..do.. . 




do 




do 






Hayan, George W 


do 


Feb. 29, 1864 


3 


Killed at Wilderness, Va„ May 6, '64. 


Hall, William 


do 


Mar. 23, 1864 


3 


Died at Field Hospital, near Brandy Sta., 
Va. — date unknown. 






Haynan, Joseph J 


do 


Feb. 29, 1864 


3 


Died March 27, '64 — burial record, Thos. 
Hayman, died at Alexandria, Va., March 
29, '64, grave 1,692. 




.. ..do.. . 


Mar. 30, 1864 


3 


Captured at William's Farm, June 22, '64 — 
died at Andersonville, Ga., Aug. i, '64, 














grave 4,474. 


Hutchinson, Scott 


do 


Feb. 29, 1864 


3 


Died July, '64, at U. S. General Hospital, 
Alexandria, Va 




do 


Mar. 23, 1864 


3 


Died June 23, '64, at Second Corps Field 
Hospital. 






Hull, John J 


do 


Mar. 23, 1864 


3 


Died 1865, at U. S General Hospital, Alex- 










andria, Va. 


Hanlon, William 


do 


Aug. 19, 1862 


3 


Wd. at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62 — 
transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 


Hudson, Joseph 


do 


Aug. 19, 1862 


3 


Killed at Fredericksburg, Dec, 13, '62. 


HIckey, Michael 


do 


Aug. 2, 1862 


3 


Transferred to U. S. Artillery, Sept., 1862. 


Horner, William 


do 


Aug. II, 1862 




Not on muster-out roll. 


Harr, James 


do 


Aug. 29, 1862 


3 


Not on muster-out roll. 


Hughes, James 


do 


Sept. I, 1862 


3 


Not on muster-out roll. 


Inks, John H 


do 


Feb. 24, 1864 


3 


Died June 15 of wds. rec. at Totopotomy,Va., 
May 31, '64 — bur. in Nat. Cem., Arlington. 


Jordon, Joseph A 


do 


Feb. 29, 1864 


3 


Trans, to Co. A, loth reg. Vet. Res. Corps — 
discharged by General Order, July 29, '65. 


James, Francis 


do 


Aug. 13, 1862 


3 


Not on muster out roll. 


Kearns, John 


do 


Feb. 24, 1864 


3 


Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 


Kunkle, George 


do 


Aug. 4, 1862 


3 


Transferred to company D, Jan. 26, 1863. 


King, James L 


do 


July 25, 1862 


3 


Transferred to company D, Jan. 26, 1863. 



THREE YEARS' SERVICE. 



421 



King, Daniel 

Lehman, Elias... 
Luckey, John W., 



Luckey, Joshua 
Long, Charles... 

Long, James 

Logue, James 



Logue, Daniel 

Leister. William.. 

Murray. James 

Mallory. John D 



Moore, John 

Morrison, Ross.. 

Maust, Jacob 



Martin, John 

Merrick, Joseph 

Munson, John H 

Mahaffey. Henry 

Miles, George H 

McDonald, John 

McCuen, John 

McClean, Rich. S... 



McDowell, Andrew. 



Mcllhenney, John .... 
McFadden, Thom.as . 

McGiveney, Wm 

McVey, Hugh 



McGinty, Hugh , 
Neal, Henry O... 



O' Brian, Thomas..., 
O' Brian, William..., 

O' Brian, John 

O'Hara, John T 

Oliver, James 

Prettyman, Jacob 



Powers, John 

Price, Edward 

Quinn, James 

Ryan, Isaac L 

Ryan, John 

Rifle, David J 

Rathburn, Milton.. 

Roe, Robert 

Sampsell, Simeon.. 
Savage, Edmund. . 



Shipley, William D. 
Smith, James 



Smith, Joseph J. 
Smith, John W., 



Sickels, Daniel. 



Private 

do.... 

do.... 



.do. 
.do. 

.do. 
.do. 

.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 

.do. 
.do. 



do. 
.do. 
.do. 
-do. 
.do . 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 



.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
do. 

.do. 
.do. 

.do. 

.do 

.do. 

.do. 

..do. 

.do. 

.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
,.do. 
..do. 
,.do. 

..do. 
..do. 

..do. 
..do. 



DATE OF 

MUSTER INTO 

SERVICE. 



Aug. 23 
Mar. 31 
Mar. 29 

Feb. 29 
Aug. 22 
Aug. 23 
Aug. 19 

Sept. I 
Aug. 28 
Mar. I 
Mar. 31 

Mar. 29 
Mar. 30 

Mar. 

Aug. 28 
Aug. T, 
July 28 
Aug. 8 
Aug. 12 
Mar. I 
Feb. 29 
Feb. 29 

Aug. 6 

Aug. 12 
Aug. 13 
Aug. 23 
Aug. 13 

Aug. 19 
Mar. 31 

Aug. 29 
Sept. 2 
Aug. 13 
Aug. 28 
Mar. 9 
Feb. 29 



Aug. 

Feb. 

Aug, 

Feb. 

Mar. 

Feb. 

Feb. 

Sept ^, 

Mar. 28, 

Mar. 23 

Mar. 31 
Mar. 31 

Feb 29 
Feb. 29 



1864 



1864 



Feb. 29, 18 



REMARKS. 



Not on muster-out roll. 

Absent, sick, at muster-out. 

Prisoner from Aug. i, 1864, to Mar. 13, 1865 — 

discharged by General Order, June 20, 1865. 
Died April 8, 1864, at Alexandria, Va. 
Transferred to company D, Jan. 26, '63. 
Transferred to company D, Jan. 26, '63. 
Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va,, Dec. 13, '62 

— transferred to Company D, Jan. 26, '63. 
Transferred to company D, Jan. 26, '63. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
Mustered out with company, July 14, '65 — 

captured while on picket, Oct. i, '64. 
Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
Wounded at Po River, Va., May 10, 1864 — 

discharged by General Order, June 7, '65. 
Died at Alexandria, Va , Mar. 8, '64 — bu. 

rec. Mar. 29, '64 — grave i,68g. 
Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63, 
Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 

Discharged by General Order, June 26, '65. 
Discharged by General Order, May 2, '65. 
Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H.,Va., May 

i8,'64 — disch.by General Order, June 13. '65. 
Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62 

— transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 
Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 
Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 
Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 
Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62 

— transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Wd. at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 12, '64 

— Mus. out with company, July 14, '65 — Vet. 
Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Wounded at Wilderness — absent, sick, at 

muster out — Vet. 
Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Absent, sick, at muster out. 
Absent, sick, at muster out. 
Killed at William's Farm, Va., June 22, '64. 
Killed at Spottsylvania C. H.,Va.,May 12, '64. 
Not on muster-out roll. 
Absent, sick, at muster out. 
Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Va„ May 18, 

■64. 
Disch. by General Order, June 2, '65. 
Died of wounds received at Wilderness — bu. 

rec, died at Annapolis, Md., Aug. 24, '64. 
Killed at Spottsylvania C. H.,Va.,May 12, '64. 
Died June 14, of wounds received at Cold 

Harbor, Va., June 3, '64 — buried in Nat. 

Cemetery, Arlington. 
Wounded and captured at Spottsylvania C. 

H., Va., May 12, 1864 — died at Anderson- 

ville, Ga , July 9, 1864 — barial record, July 

ig, 1864 — grave, 3,586. 



422 



THE STORY OF THE 116TH REGIMENT. 



NAMB. 


KANK. 


DATE OF 

MUSTER INTO 

SERVICE. 


H 
M 

W 
g 

M 
> 


REMARKS. 


Sweeney, John 


Private 

do 

do 


Aug. 19, 1862 
Aug. 23, 1862 
Aug. 15, 1862 
Feb. 29, 1864 
Feb. 17, 1864 
Mar. 23, 1864 
Feb. 29, 1864 
Mar. 7, 1864 

Aug. 14, 1862 
Aug. 16, 1862 
Sept. I, 1862 
Sept. 2, 1862 
Apr. I, 1864 

Feb. 8, 1864 
Feb. 29, 1864 
Feb. 29, 1864 

Feb. 29, 1864 
Sept. I, 1862 
Aug. 5, 1862 

Sept. I, 1862 
July 25, 1862 
Sept. 2, 1862 
Feb. 29, 1864 
Mar. 23, 1864 


I 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 

3 
3 
3 
3 
3 


Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, 1863. 
Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, 1863. 


Sweeney, Michael 




do 


Transferred to V. R. corps. 
Mustered out with company, July 14, "65. 
Died May 5, '64 — bu. in Mil. Asy. Cem.,D. C. 
Killed at Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864. 
Killed in action at Five Forks, Va., March 31. 

1865 
Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 
Not on muster-out roll. 


Toner, John 


do.. .. 


Taylor, Benjamin 


do 

do 


Thorndell. Thos. T 

Tally, Patrick 


do 

.. .do.. . 


Townsend, Egbert 


do 

do 


Torbert, Ed. W 


do 






do 


Captured at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, -'64 
— died at Salisbury, N. C, Oct. 19, '64. 

Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 

Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 

Wounded at Po River, Va., May 10, '64 — dis- 
charged by General Order, June, 13, '65. 

Transferred to Vet. Res. Corps, Jan. 24, '65. 

Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 

Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13. 
'62 — transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 

Killed at Fredericksburg. 

Died February 9, '63. 

Not on muster-out roll. 

Honorably discharged — date unknown. 

Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, '64 
— mus. out with company, July 14, '65 — Vet. 


Whitaker, Warren 


do 

do 


Williams, Thos. B 

Watson, Aaron S 

Wilson, John 

Wallace, Wm. A 


do 

do 

do 

do 


Wilson, Thomas 


do 




do.... 


Wilkinson, Thomas 

Wood, John W 


do 

do 


Yauger, Charles 


do 







Unassigned Men. 



Agan, Thomas , 

Ankins, John W 

Bronson, John 

Brown, John , 

Dugman, Michael.., 

Geggus, Lewis 

Gallagher, Simon..., 
Hammer, Henry ... 
McCormick, Zach ., 
Wandel, Benjamin. 



Private. 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do..., 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 

do.... 



Mar. 30 
Mar. 10 
Mar. 30, 
Feb. 29 
Jan. 19 
Mar. 
Feb. 
Mar. 
Feb. 24 
Feb 



, 1864 


3 


,1864 


3 


, 1864 


3 


, 1864 


3 


. 1865 




, 1864 


3 


, 1864 


3 


, 1864 


3 


, 1864 


3 


, 1864 


3 



Not accounted for. 

Not accounted for. 

Not accounted for. 

Not accounted for. 

Substitute — not accounted for. 

Not accounted for. 

Not accounted for. 

Discharged by General Order, June 5, 1865. 

Not accounted for. 

Not accounted for. 



